Communication skills and crucial conversation is vital in making you elevate to the manager role. Several books and courses are available on this topic that is part of managers' courses. Such conversation can be tough but not impossible for a leader to excel. It is also a skill that people otherwise should master to deal with any complicated and awkward situations. Do you have it to be a leader who excels in crucial conversation? If not, this is the right place. This blog deep-dives into the steps one needs to consider. Continue reading.

What is a Crucial Conversation?

First, let's understand what crucial conversation is. A conversation that is sensitive but can't be avoided. Avoidance will only lead to more problems in the future. So, talking it out in the right manner, without being insensitive, to reach a solution is a crucial conversation. If you want to enroll in one of the courses for managers, you need to consider this skill.

Steps to a crucial conversation

• Step 1 (Let your heart do the talking): It may sound unrealistic, but the first step is to listen to what your heart says. No matter what others say or advise, you should know the right thing to do. After listening to your heart, the conversation will begin smoothly when you know precisely what you want.

   

• Step 2 (Learn to differentiate): When you get into a crucial conversation, things may not be the way you want them to be. At times, one may deviate from the topic and get defensive. You should take charge of such situations and remind them that they are deviating. This way, you are controlling the conversation to reach the right destination.

   

• Step 3 (Apologize): If you must apologize, do it without a second thought. This will make the other party feel that you want this conversation to take place with dignity.

   

• Step 4 (Manage emotions): It is imperative that during crucial conversations, you manage your feelings. Doing so, you get a better perspective of what the other party has to bring to the table. You also make way for them to open up and speak their heart out. If you don't manage your emotions, you will be biased in deciding.

   

• Step 5 (Don't offend): When you project your views without offending others, you ensure that the other person is not offended. There must be respect in talking to someone about something critical. Without it, you also can't expect to receive equal consideration.

   

• Step 6 (Know their action plan): You should try to read between the lines and understand what the other person is thinking. Their action plan can help you conclude what they want. With this approach, both the parties involved in a conversation can reach a destination.

   

• Step 7 (Action plan): Now that you have followed the six steps, the final step is to prepare a concrete action plan and move forward. Both the parties should arrive at a decision and agree. This agreement should proceed in a manner that is mutual to both.

Conclusion

Although the seven steps may seem like an uphill task, slowly and steadily, you will be where you want to; that is, conclude. At Crucial Learning, we ensure that our participants master these steps and more tricks and tips for a crucial conversation through our award-winning courses for managers. With more than thirty years of experience in imparting like transformation skills training, we have only given able managers to the corporates.