We Have to Talk: A Step-By-Step Checklist for Difficult Conversations

We Have to Talk: A Step-By-Step Checklist for Difficult Conversations

By Judy Ringer

Think of a conversation you’ve been putting off. Got it? Great. Then let’s go. There are dozens of books on the topic of difficult, crucial, challenging, important (you get the idea) conversations (I list several at the end of this article). Those times when you know you should talk to someone, but you don’t. Maybe you’ve tried and it went badly. Or maybe you fear that talking will only make the situation worse. Still, there’s a feeling of being stuck, and you’d like to free up that stuck energy for more useful purposes. What you have here is a brief synopsis of best practice strategies: a checklist of action items to think about before going into the conversation; some useful concepts to practice during the conversation; and some tips and suggestions to help your energy stay focused and flowing, including possible conversation openings. You’ll notice one key theme throughout: you have more power than you think. Find Judy's step-by-step guide (and many other resources) on her website HERE.