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Read time: 2 mins
Picture this:
You're about to deliver a presentation.
Your palms are a little sweaty.
Your heart is racing.
You launch into your talk, and nerves get the better of you.
"Um...so, umm...uh..."
The audience fidgets and your message gets lost in the filler words.
Now imagine this:
Your supportive boss pulls you aside afterward.
They tell you the "ums" detracted from your points and say they want to help you feel more comfortable and confident for next time.
You have a genuinely helpful chat together about ways to manage your presentation anxiety, and you come away feeling cared for and clear on how to improve.
This is the power of tough conversations.
As a business leader, you need to be great at this.
They might be uncomfortable, but they're the secret weapon for growth.
Honest feedback helps your team polish their skills, overcome barriers, and contribute more to the business.
And we’ve got your back!
This week, we’re sharing 2 words to help you have better tough conversations.
Let’s get into it!
2 WORDS TO HAVE BETTER TOUGH CONVERSATIONS
Many people avoid giving feedback for fear of hurting feelings.
They think silence is kindness.
But consider this: how would you feel if no one told you about food in your teeth or an unzipped fly?
Silence isn’t kindness.
It’s hurtful.
So, when we coach our clients, we share our spin on Kim Scott's concept of 'Radical Candor', by narrowing down tough conversations to 2 words: CLARITY and CARE.
- CLARITY: The person you're giving feedback to needs to clearly understand what you mean.
- CARE: They also need to believe you genuinely care about them and want to help.
When you bring both clarity and care to a tough conversation, you're creating the best environment for a positive conversation and great outcome for everyone involved.
Our 2 top tips:
To master being CLEAR and showing CARE, consider this:
1) Get CLEAR yourself:
Before delivering feedback, make sure you’re clear on your message:
- What are you trying to say?
- Why is it important?
- How will you say it?
- When is the best time to speak up?
You'll deliver the message more effectively if you have clear answers to these questions.
2) Your CARE is only half the battle:
Caring about your team member isn’t enough.
They need to believe that you care.
This means you need to deliver on two fronts: (1) Actual Care and (2) Perceived Care.
You may think saying, 'Hey, you lacked energy in the presentation you gave ' shows you care because you're looking out for them.
But your team member might think it was rude that you didn't ask if anything was wrong, and if they were okay.
It often helps to check in and ask how your words and actions are perceived, to make sure they're coming across the way you intend.
Clarity and care are a powerful combination.
Master these 2, and you will set the foundation for all your future tough conversations - whether it’s conquering presentation nerves, an unzipped fly, or anything in between.
You got this!
Let us know how your next tough conversation goes.
Speak soon and thanks for reading,
Lynne and Steve
TLDR:
- Tough conversations are critical for business, personal, and professional growth.
- Use Clarity and Care to help guide your next tough conversations.
- Start by getting clear yourself (before a tough conversation) and make sure your Actual Care matches Perceived Care.
- Reach out if you need support!
When you're ready, here's how we can support you further:
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