Discussion Difficult Conversations at work
Read the article How to Handle Difficult Conversations at Work(link: https://hbr.org/2015/01/how-
Each member of your small group will answer the following questions:
- How could the situation or conversation have been handled differently so that expectations and concerns were communicated clearly?
- What is your recommendation in this case? Would you conduct a formal or informal conversation, and why?
Requirements: 2 paragraphs
Answer preview
Difficult conversations are an inevitable part of management, and one may be reluctant to open a conversation due to the fear of the consequences and uncertainties (Knight, 2015). Hence, it is essential to communicate and converse to ensure effective communication. It is necessary to learn how to handle difficult conversations to produce better outcomes and less discomfort in managing the conversation. In the first case, Tabatha should have used simple, clear and direct language and allowed room for the employee to state his concerns. Tabatha should also have been compassionate with her words, saying that “He is not a good fit “for the job, which may have led to the employee feeling unhappy as he had worked there for a long time (Knight, 2015). Tabatha would also have addressed why the company was laying off the employee and why he was being laid off, which would have given the employee time to respond, leading to mutual
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