When Jared walked into a meeting to discuss a new marketing approach for a product, the conversation didn’t play out well. Five minutes into the dialogue, the product manager, Françoise, started interrupting him with questions he was planning to address later in the pitch. As the conversation ran off the rails, Jared struggled to keep a calm demeanor, while Françoise multitasked; Jared watched in frustration as she sent at least five text messages during their altercation. Jared left the meeting feeling belittled and demoralized. Françoise left feeling frazzled and irritated — she didn’t have time to sit through a poorly thought out presentation. There was too much other work to get done!
In a Difficult Conversation, Listen More Than You Talk
You don’t need the last word.
February 09, 2017
Summary.
Oftentimes, coworkers have communication breakdowns, with both sides of an argument leaving the meeting feeling frustrated. To improve difficult conversations, try these three things. Be present – turn away from your computer, leave your phone at your desk, and pause before the conversation to take a deep breath. Listen more – be genuinely curious and interested in the topic at hand, even if you initially have to fake it. And be open – seek common ground, and be willing to be proven wrong. Over time, listening openly and attentively to others helps to cultivate trust.