Posted by Editor’s Note (Concierge Medicine Today/The DPC Journal) — We found this article to be very helpful at sharing communication tips and thought it might be helpful for you, your staff and possibly even that NEXT patient that walks in the door … Happy New Year! ~Michael
How to Have Difficult Conversations When You Don’t Like Conflict
An executive leadership coach shares some tips on how to approach potential conflicts.
Joel Garfinkle is an executive leadership coach and author of Getting Ahead: Three Steps to Take Your Career to the Next Level and Difficult Conversations: Practical Tactics for Crucial Communication. Follow Joel at his FulfillmentATwork newsletter.
Avoiding or delaying a difficult conversation can hurt your relationships and create other negative outcomes. It may not feel natural at first, especially if you dread discord, but you can learn to dive into these tough talks by reframing your thoughts.
- Begin from a place of curiosity and respect, and stop worrying about being liked.
- Focus on what you’re hearing, not what you’re saying.
- Be direct.
- Don’t Put It Off.
- Expect a positive outcome.
