Difficult Conversations

What is a difficult conversation? Asking for a pay rise, saying 'no' to your boss or spouse, confronting a friend or neighbor, asking a difficult favor, apologizing. We all have conversations that we dread and find unpleasant. But can we develop the skills to make such situations less stressful and more productive? Based on fifteen years of research and consultations with thousands of people, "Difficult Conversations" pinpoints what works. Use this ground-breaking, step-by-step book to turn your difficult conversations into positive, problem-solving experiences.

Table of Contents

Sort out the three conversations; stop arguing about who's right - explore each other's stories; don't assume they meant it disentangle intent from impact; abandon blame - map the contribution system; have your feelings (or they will have you); ground your identity - ask yourself what's at stake; what's your purpose - when to raise it and when to let go; getting started - begin from the third story; learning - listen from the inside out; expression - speak for yourself with clarity and power; problem-solving - take the lead; putting it all together.

About the Author

Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen work for the Harvard Negotiation Project.