A Harvard Business Executive Gives Tips On Holding Tricky Discussions

Daisy Wademan Dowling’s blog, on the Harvard Business Review online, gives us some tips for handling difficult conversations. Her advice is quite useful, as we often find we have to make staff cutbacks, budget cutbacks, and take away things we thought we would be giving out instead. Such problems are caused by the difficult economy, but also by common business problems such as low performance or projects that have gone awry. So don’t imagine that some day you won’t have to have these difficult conversations. They are part of the package! Let’s take a look at her tips:

Set realistic goals: You may have to communicate difficult information, but accept that. Don’t try to make the recipient of the information your friend afterwards!

Lay it on the line: Just go ahead and give the bad news right away. Don’t build suspense or dawdle. People know when something unpleasant is coming.

Use “and.” Avoid interruptions from the other person by ending every statement with “and.” I know you have worked hard and I know you are very dedicated and . . . If they can’t get a word in edgewise, it only makes your job easier.

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