Podcast Summary
Having difficult conversations leads to progress and improved relationships: Embrace the discomfort of difficult conversations to build stronger relationships and make progress, requiring resilience and practice
Having difficult conversations, despite the initial discomfort, can lead to progress and improved relationships. Kate Cocker shares her personal experience of avoiding such conversations and the benefits she's missed out on. Expert Vikash Shah, author and founder of In Place of War, emphasizes the importance of having these conversations, whether in personal or professional contexts. He's interviewed world-renowned thinkers and facilitated difficult conversations in war zones. The ability to have difficult conversations requires resilience and practice. The emotional weight before, during, and after the conversation can be challenging, but it's a necessary skill to develop. Unfortunately, there's no easy way to learn this skill, and it takes experience to become proficient. So, embrace the discomfort of difficult conversations, as they often lead to positive outcomes.
Preparing for and Building Resilience in Difficult Conversations: Brace yourself, clarify intentions, and allow time for recovery to approach difficult conversations with confidence and continue growing.
Facing difficult conversations head-on is key to improving our skills and building resilience. Vikas shared his experience of finding clarity and resilience in the build-up, during, and after challenging conversations. By bracing ourselves, being clear in our intentions, and allowing ourselves time to recover, we can approach these conversations with confidence and continue to grow. So, if you've been putting off a difficult conversation, take a deep breath, prepare yourself, and have the conversation. Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect, and you'll have the opportunity to improve next time. Keep pushing forward, and you'll build the resilience you need to handle any situation. Tune in tomorrow for the final episode with Vikas this week, and on Sunday for a journal prompt related to personal growth. Don't forget to check out Vikas' book in the Everyday Positivity Facebook group for more information. Keep going, and remember, you've got this!
