Handing Difficult Conversations can be a very tricky art. It's not impossible to get through, but it can be frustrating and potentially dangerous. Follow these 6 guidelines for handling difficult conversations during your event planning meetings, and you will find it much easier than you ever imagined. Know exactly what you wish to gain from the conversation. Focus on what your target is and take some notes ahead of time if it will help to explain in your mind precisely what you wish to say.
You will find that following these six tips will make Handing Difficult Conversations easier. But if they ever occur during your event planning meetings, just follow these tips. Hand them over to your event planning Clients and let them handle it as they see fit.
Listen carefully. Your goal is to listen carefully to your discussion partner. This will enable you to discern exactly what they wish to discuss, and thus, exactly what their needs are. You need to have an unbiased and detached attitude, however, because your discussion partners may bring up something that upsets you. That's okay - you don't have to discuss it at that particular moment, you can simply listen for a while longer and then decide whether the discussion is cool or not based on your observation.
Ask open-ended questions. Asking questions like "Where did you hear about this?" or "Do you know why that is?" gives your conversation partner space to formulate an answer to those questions rather than you having to rush to give one.
Refrain from using jargon. There's a big difference between using a term that your listener knows nothing about to describe an issue that is highly important to them. In handling a conversation, you will want to be as accurate and precise as possible. If you use terms they're not familiar with, they may interpret that as a sign that you are not well-versed in the topic. If you talk down to them or try to force your point with technical terms, they may perceive that as a disrespectful attitude.
Try not to use scare quotes. Using scare quotes or other language that indicates that something is very important, is not appropriate to handling a conversation. Instead, tell your counterpart simply what he or she is saying and why. "I'd like to hear what you think about the following concept," you could say instead of quoting the concept from scratch. "We believe that when people are in a financial bind like you're in, the last thing they need is another lecture on budgeting." This is a clear way to show respect and make them feel listened to and appreciated.
Be brief. Your interruption shouldn't be an attempt to prove a point or justify a position. When you disrupt the flow of a conversation, you come off as insincere and unprofessional. Keep your communication short and to the point.
Share information. If you know what's bothering your counterpart, share that information without debate. You don't have to always hold your opinions in reserve. It's okay to agree when you're disagreeing, but if you're not able to resolve the problem, at least you can listen to what he or she has to say and find solutions together.
Listen to his needs. Even if you believe you know what you're doing, you may not be the right person for the task at hand. Make an honest assessment of his needs and find ways to help him or her meet them.
Ask questions. When someone feels uncomfortable or the air between the two of you begins to feel tense, ask open-ended questions that allow you to develop deeper communication. Ask questions about his or her needs and concerns or things in his or her life that are making him or her feel frustrated or overwhelmed. Don't try to force the issue or use physical pressure, such as pointing out that you're not interested unless he's willing to talk to you directly.
Remember that there will be times when your partner is simply not interested in talking to you. That's not a sign of a problem. It's just the nature of human interaction. Just remember that you can't control others, so learn to manage yourself.
