PrimeFocus™ Mini-Assessment: Complete the Self-Assessment
Change-Readiness Indicator: Complete the Assessment
Author: Russell Evans
Date: 11/03/2022
Tough conversations matter. And in tough conversations, one of the biggest challenges is to get the right balance between being assertive and empathic. Being effectively assertive allows you to express what’s important to you; the things you need, your perspective; as well as what concerns you about the situation. Being effectively empathic means you work hard to understand the other person’s perspective and are able to express their views without adding any kind of judgemental twist.
A good place to start could be thinking about how you typically approach ‘conflict’, remembering ‘conflict’ can be anything on a spectrum from violent disagreement to simple differences of opinion. It's helpful to reflect on the following:
By stepping back and thinking how your tendencies will drive how you are likely to react in this kind of scenario, you can choose to be more purposeful and respond in a way that helps create the right conditions to solve the problem together.
Conversations that could potentially become tough ones really matter. Give them the attention and thought they deserve.
Russell Evans, Director and Partner at Primeast has worked with organisations globally, for over twenty years helping them to develop leadership effectiveness.
Russell has worked across a range of sectors, particularly in highly matrixed, often heavily regulated environments. He is passionate about supporting leaders as they embark on their leadership journey helping them develop both their 'outer game' (skills) and their 'inner game' (thinking and mindset).
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