This month’s theme is all about mastering difficult conversations!
I know I talk about this all the time already, so I could just give you a bunch of my own resources, but that’d be boring! So instead, I’m sharing some of my favorite/cool resources that I’ve found around difficult conversations.
There’s plenty of books and podcasts out there on this topic (and some are classics!), so I’ll try not to share the things people usually talk about (Crucial Conversations, etc.) – instead, I’m going to share resources you may not already know about!
–Resource 1–
Webinar: The Neuroscience of Difficult Conversations
If you know me, you’d know I’m a huge neuroscience nerd. I love everything about the brain, how it works, and how it’s capable of so much in such a small space. So the other week I was excited to attend a webinar from the NeuroLeadership Institute around the neuroscience of difficult conversations. David Rock, the creator of the SCARF model (I wrote about it here), shares about how to have difficult conversations in a way that takes into account how the brain works. It was an incredible webinar and I picked up some cool tips!
–Resource 2–
Two great podcasts (in addition to mine of course)
When it comes to difficult conversations, there are two that I love (and truthfully, I wish my podcast was as good as theirs):
- Negotiate Anything – I’ve listened to this one for years and have learned so much. Kwame Christian is great at what he does and always has knowledgeable and accomplished guests on. I’ll know I’ve made it if I ever get to guest on his podcast! You can listen wherever you get your podcasts or on Apple
- The Jefferson Fisher Podcast – Maybe you’ve seen his shorts/reels, maybe you have a copy of his book, but this guy is incredible at communicating in hard situations. I highly recommend you check him out
–Resource 3–
Difficult Conversations Workbook
Maybe you know this, but I have a course on mastering difficult conversations. The course itself comes with a 42-page workbook. Here’s the good news – I actually shortened and condensed it into a complete 15-page toolkit that gives you all the essentials – preparing for the conversation, tools and scripts for the actual conversation, and more. The best part? It’s completely free for you to download as a friend on this list.
–Resource 4–
Book: Never Split the Difference
Ok, one book I will recommend is an incredible book that’s really about negotiation, but I’ve found it to be so useful in all realms of difficult conversations. Written by Chris Voss, a former FBI hostage negotiator, he talks about all the skills and techniques to manage hard conversations. It was really validating to me as many of the skills he describes in the book are the exact same ones I used in therapy. I reference this book all the time.
–Resource 5–
Interview: Sterling K. Brown
I never watched This is Us, but I’ve seen this actor in a few other movies and I think he’s a really good actor. He tends to be in roles that are super dramatic with tons of emotions and situations that cover really hard topics. Anyway, I read this recent interview with him in Parade Magazine where he actually talks about his career, but also the importance of having hard conversations, so I was only a moderate fan before, but I really appreciated his thoughts here.
I’m hopeful that you found something useful here! If you aren’t on my weekly newsletter where I go through difficult conversation tips weekly, you can get on the list here
Next month, I’m going to cover resources in making hard decisions and confidently navigating situations where there may be incomplete information.
Cheers,
Chris
PS – If you’re struggling with being assertive in difficult conversations in your personal or professional life, I’ve got a way to help you!
In my Master Difficult Conversations course, I help you handle the toughest conversations with confidence, balance empathy and assertiveness, and respond to the most difficult behaviors.
In this blend of both self-paced and 1:1 sessions with myself, you get the opportunity to turn theory into practice and build the relationships you want.
