The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations

Podcast Summary: In this rolepay episode of our podcast, we delve into the delicate matter of emotional boundaries and trust within personal and professional relationships. We roleplayed a situation in which Chris shared with a third party something that Lucie shared with him in confidence. Lucie found out about it. Tune in to find out how she addressed it with Chris.  The first scenario...

Are questions really that important?     Yes!     In fact, asking good questions may be the single best tool you have to get unstuck in hard conversations.  But good, powerful questions are easier said than done.  In this week's episode,   Chris   walks through:   The benefits of asking good questions The ingredients of what makes a question p...

How to use your story to empower others In this week’s podcast episode, we interview a very dear friend, Heidi Lee.  Chris   has been friends with her for many years, and Heidi has worked for years in the Boston area as a treatment case manager, harm reduction specialist, and peer support specialist with vulnerable and underserved populations.  Her motivation?  She also experie...

  Show Notes for the Podcast Episode: Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to collaborate on a project with someone outside your department or team?  It can be either a mutually enjoyable experience or one that you tell your coworkers about with anger and frustration in your voice.  Join us today for a roleplay podcast episode, where we demonstrate two versions of cros...

In this week’s podcast, Chris answers the age-old question: “How do I deal with a person that gets defensive or gets emotional or angry?” The good news – there are simple, proven techniques that can help in the moment. Even better news? There are two things you can do to prepare so that you can minimize the intensity of that behavior. In this short strategy episode, Chris goes over: - How to start...

Episode Overview: Have you ever found yourself avoiding tough conversations, whether at work or in personal relationships? Do you want to know how  cultural and familial backgrounds shape the way we handle conflicts? How can that play out in your life and w hat it takes to transform from a conflict-avoider to a confident communicator in difficult situations?   Join us for another episode...

Show Notes: How (not) to give constructive feedback.  Are you struggling with giving negative feedback to your team members? Join us for this roleplay episode, and take it as an opportunity to review or learn some tips to make giving constructive feedback better for everyone involved. In the bonus resource to this episode, you will find a summary of key takeaways and a few other&nbs...

Why are difficult conversations so difficult? In this episode, Chris walks through just what exactly makes difficult conversations so difficult.  Because knowing what makes them difficult can help us put in the right strategies to make them less stressful.  In this episode, Chris walks through: How the fight/flight/freeze response affects the conversations Why caring about both the ...

Why do Lucie and Chris care about difficult conversations so much? In this episode, Lucie and Chris each share about why they care about this topic and what it’s meant for them to become more comfortable with difficult conversations.  Listeners will hear how Chris’ immigrant and refugee parents had a “ignore at all costs” approach to difficult conversations and how he was forced to adapt and...

How to handle stressful conversations with family during the holidays? In this special holiday episode, we delve into the art of navigating challenging conversations at the Thanksgiving table. Through roleplaying scenarios, we explore both the ineffective and more effective ways to handle difficult family discussions. Key Takeaways: Roleplaying the Ineffective Way : We simulate tense family dialog...

Do you love having difficult conversations? Chances are not so much!? Maybe you even hate having them? We get it! We didn't love them either! But we decided to get better at them, and now we help our clients gain more ease, clarity and confidence in their own difficult conversations. We believe in growth, and our mission is to help you improve your relationships, communication skills, and, ultimat...