Can We Talk?: Seven Principles for Managing Difficult Conversations at Work

WINNER: Independent Press Award 2022 - Career Are you avoiding an uncomfortable conversation at work? If you're an executive or a team leader, strengthening your organization's ability to have difficult conversations is necessary and worth the discomfort. The key to successful dialogue starts and ends with changing the conversation. Recognizing that it takes two people to engage in meaningful outcomes, Can We Talk? outlines what each contributor needs to do to achieve the best possible result. Using examples from everyday work situations, this book offers guidance on how to create the right conditions for a meaningful discussion. The author identifies the seven key principles that enable both parties to gain a deeper understanding of what the other person may be thinking and will help establish their point of view more clearly: confidence, clarity, compassion, curiosity, compromise, credibility, courage. Can We Talk? includes examples and advice from those who have been there and thrived, as well as lessons learned from conversation failures and example scripts of productive conversations. Readers will learn how to prepare, start and manage the potentially challenging exchange of words that typically occur at work, and come away with an understanding that for any conversation to take place, both parties must be engaged.

Table of Contents:
Chapter - 00: Introduction - The Seven Principles for Managing Difficult Conversations; Chapter - 01: Confidence - Trusting Yourself and the Other Party; Chapter - 02: Clarity - Making Your Point Clearly and Listening with an Open Mind; Chapter - 03: Compassion - Be Empathetic and Understanding; Chapter - 04: Curiosity - Asking Questions Rather Than Shutting Down; Chapter - 05: Compromise - Earn Respect by Respecting Others; Chapter - 06: Credibility - Recognizing Your Word Is Only as Good as Your Actions; Chapter - 07: Courage - Navigating the Obstacles; Chapter - 08: Bringing It All Together

About the Author :
Roberta Chinsky Matuson is based in Brookline, Massachusetts and helps leaders achieve dramatic improvements in employee engagement, retention, productivity and profitability. She's the president and founder of Matuson Consulting, where she works with Fortune 500 companies and mid-size, emerging companies to create teams that achieve extraordinary results. Known globally as "The Talent Maximizer®," she is a seasoned speaker and the author of five books and blogs for Fast Company, Glassdoor, Forbes and Thrive Global. She is frequently cited in national media including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Inc.com, WashingtonPost.com and NPR.

Review :
"Everything you need to know about communication and relationship building at work is right here! Solid insights and practical advice from one of the world's leading authorities on executive coaching and employee engagement." "Who doesn't cringe when they hear the words, Can We Talk? And yet the truth is, those conversations we'd prefer to avoid are essential. I love how Roberta clearly guides us through the process of finding our voice so we can say what most needs to be said. This book is invaluable for leaders or for anyone who works." "If you want to keep your employees, then you've got to get them talking. Roberta Matuson's book will do just that. With memorable stories and examples (including the author's own first-hand experiences of difficult conversations quickly going south) Can We Talk? provides readers with tools to actively build better relationships up, down and across the organization." "There's nothing more important in business than the ability to communicate effectively with those above, below and across from you. In Can We Talk?, Roberta provides readers with a game-changing framework to help them safely navigate through any tough work conversation, while successfully building strong relationships along the way." "If you've been holding back from saying what needs to be said at work, Can We Talk? is the book for you. No topic is off the table here. This is a must-read for business owners, leaders and employees looking to find their voice and power up their communication skills." "One of our six Core Values at Saxbys is "Care Personally and Communicate Openly" - simply because we know how critical, yet difficult human communication can be. Roberta's book does a fantastic job identifying both the importance of actually having difficult conversations while also providing the guidance to have them effectively." "Can We Talk? is essential reading for anyone looking to improve their work relationships and build trust through more effective communication. Can We Talk? is one of those books that you'll refer to time and time again." "Can We Talk? is a fast-pass framework to help you move past one-sided conversations, better your career and achieve a more humanistic workplace." "Where was Can We Talk? when I needed it most? All those well-meaning but frequently awkward conversations that could have been better for all if I had read this. Roberta proves once again that she is the subject matter expert." "Roberta has done it again! I find myself wishing I'd had this book when I was a new professional. Roberta's practical approach and no-nonsense language make this the playbook for improving employee performance. Her planned approach is sure to make giving tough messages a lot easier, and that is the first step to ensuring your employees are exceeding your expectations." "Roberta's Can We Talk? gives managers and individual contributors a comprehensive toolbox on how to handle difficult conversations in a productive and constructive manner, and elevate performance and employee engagement. It's a must-read for anyone who wants to be successful in their career."