The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations

Join us today for a conversation with Randy Wheeler, where we discuss how understanding different personality and working styles can help us not only communicate better but also lead others more effectively.  About Randy:  Randy   Wheeler , owner of   Wheeler   Coaching, helps individuals and teams develop their leadership, improve communication, and strengt...

SUMMARY: **Trigger Warning: Discussion of trauma, sexual abuse**  What happens when you learn a family member has been experiencing sexual abuse?  What do you do if there’s no one to talk to about it?  On this week’s podcast, Lucie and Chris welcome Keeper Catran-Whitney, child sexual abuse activist who, in 1977, learned that his stepfather had been sexually abusing his four sisters...

Have you ever dealt with a situation when you worked really hard and came up with a great idea, only to find out your peer presented the same idea as theirs during the next team meeting? How do you respond in a professional way that doesn't destroy the relationship and brings the credit back to you? If you want to know what to do and what not to do in similar tricky situations, join us and li...

Join us for this last mid-season compilation episode! You will hear three segments today:  Five elements of giving effective feedback How to ask for a raise How to deal with someone who gets defensive, angry or emotional.  Let us know what you think!  Subscribe & Review: If you enjoy this episode, leave a review and share your insights! Check out the Mastering Difficult Conversa...

In this compilation episode, we picked 3 experts to share with you and a bonus mini-communication challenge question that you can ask yourself and your loved one, for deeper and more meaningful communication and connection with self and others.  Tune in today to listen to:  - What is this week's mini-communication challenge question? - Interview with Grace Gavin about 6 practices yo...

Holidays are the special time of the year when we get together with our loved ones to celebrate. Yet sometimes, holidays may be a time of increased stress with those loved ones! Maybe you and your partner have different ideas about where to spend the holidays this or next year, or your parent keeps talking badly about your spouse. Or, you have some difficult past with your family members that is s...

How do you deal with tough communication situations at work? Be it when someone keeps interrupting you when you speak, when your team member keeps going off on a tangent or when you as a leader need to implement a change, but your team members keep resisting and pushing against it?  Do you want more peace of mind and clarity in navigating these situations?  Join us for this special compi...

In this episode of The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations , hosts Chris Wong and Lucie Tesarova dive deep into the art of delivering feedback that gets results. Whether you're a leader, manager, or HR professional, mastering feedback can elevate your team's performance and trust. 🎙️ What You'll Learn: The 5 essential elements of effective feedback How to balance honesty with empathy Common...

Have you been struggling to feel fulfilled in life? In this week’s episode, Chris and Lucie welcome high-performance expert Purdeep Sangha to discuss the critical link between communication, well-being, and achieving a fulfilling life. Drawing on his unique background and experience, Purdeep explores the challenges individuals and organizations face in today’s digital age, particularly in maintain...

Ever faced the tricky scenario of an underperforming team member asking for a promotion? In this episode of The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations , we dive into this complex workplace challenge. Join Chris and Lucie as we explore why underperformers might feel they deserve a promotion, the motivations behind their requests, and how to navigate these conversations effectively as a lea...

Are you being the “real you” in conversations? Not many people would disagree that productive conversations mean both sides being open and honest. Easier said than done. How do you create an environment where the other person feels safe enough to be open and honest? More importantly, how do you be honest too? In this episode, Chris and Lucie interview Grace Gavin, a communication expert who emphas...

What To Do When a High Performer Slacks After a Promotion? Today’s episode is a deep dive into the complexities of leadership. Chris and Lucie tackle a challenging scenario where a top performer begins to drop the ball after a recent promotion. They discuss ways to understand underlying issues—whether insecurity, new role challenges, or overconfidence—and provide practical guidance for supporting...

Whether you’re interested in understanding family dynamics, navigating generational trauma, or fostering connection through meaningful conversations, this episode offers powerful insights and practical takeaways. Today’s special guest is Becky Ellis, author of her debut memoir, Little Avalanches. In our conversation, Becky shares how tough yet healing discussions with her father, a WWII veteran, t...

Navigating Holiday Decisions: Whose Family Do We Spend It With? In today’s episode, Chris and Lucie dive into a common holiday dilemma many couples face: deciding whose family to spend holidays with. They explore the complexities of family dynamics, travel, and emotions, offering strategies for managing these conversations without compromising relationships. They roleplay a discussion between...

We love communication here at the Art and Science of Difficult Conversations.  In fact, that’s our tagline, “Communicate better, live better”.  But in the pursuit of more open and transparent communication, does the pendulum swing too far in the opposite direction?  Are there times when we don’t need to communicate about a topic?  That’s our focus today, when we have a lively d...

In this episode, we discuss how to handle situations where a high-performing employee or leader is creating interpersonal challenges in the workplace. Whether you're a manager, team member, or leader, dealing with someone who excels technically but struggles with people skills can be tricky. We explore the risks of not addressing the issue, strategies for providing constructive feedback, and how t...

What can you say if your wife wants a separation? Or a divorce?  If you’re like most men, you’ll feel blindsided and/or you’ll immediately try to figure out how to solve this problem.  Unfortunately, that’s actually not the right way to approach it at all.  In this week’s episode, Lucie and Chris talk with Randy, an experienced relationship coach focused on helping separated husband...

In this episode, Chris and Lucie discuss what to do when someone keeps interrupting you while you speak, or, when you are the one who keeps interrupting others and want to stop :) Key Takeaways: Reasons for Interrupting: Having lots of ideas and wanting to share them. Reacting emotionally (anger, upset) and wanting to defend yourself. Feeling a need to show expertise or control the conversation. H...

Navigating Political Conversations at Work Politics can seem super divisive.  And really, how do we talk about it in the workplace?  In this episode,  We talk with Chris,   a diversity, inclusion, and belonging expert at Navy Federal Credit Union about the challenges of navigating political conversations in the workplace, particularly during a charged election season. &nbs...

Setting boundaries with our family members might be the most difficult thing for many of us, yet not doing so might be very detrimental to our well-being and other relationships. Imagine that your parent cannot stand your spouse and is very vocal about it. What do you do in that situation? How do you address it? Tune in today's episode and see what from we share resonates with you.   Have you...

Sometimes, the hardest conversations we need are with ourselves.   Mainly, how do we find confidence in what we’re doing, even in the face of adversity?  And more so, how do we build supports around us that inspire and move us, rather than pull us down?  Today, we interview Emily Aarons, a leading educator to spiritual entrepreneurs, renowned energy healer, and business coach.&...

In this episode of "The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations," hosts Chris Wong and Lucie Tesarova dive deep into the complex issue of managing resistance to change, especially when it comes to implementing new technologies in the workplace. Resistance to change is a common challenge in organizations of all sizes. Whether it’s introducing new software, processes, or policies, getting everyon...

Summary: You know what’s hard?  Talking about money with your partner or family.  You know what’s even harder? Talking about money and estate planning and death.  With over two decades in the financial services realm, Christopher Hensley's journey has been driven by a singular passion: helping individuals navigate the intricate paths of finance to achieve their life aspirations. His...

In this episode of "The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations," Chris and Lucie tackle a common challenge in both professional and personal settings: dealing with tangents during difficult conversations. They explore strategies for keeping conversations on track, maintaining focus, and setting boundaries without dismissing the other person's perspective. Key Takeaways: 1. Preparation is Key:...

Title:  Finding the courage to speak up in high stakes meetings Summary : Conflict in high stakes meetings is inevitable.  Whether it's a board meeting, a roundtable discussion, or a workgroup tasked with solving complex issues, the mix of opinions will always lead to debate.    When done well, it can spark new ideas and create an inclusive process where people feel invest...