How Do You Have A Difficult Conversation?

Surely at some point you will have to face the situation of having a difficult conversation with a friend or family member on a sensitive topic.

Sometimes we are faced with the difficult situation of having to say something important to someone knowing in advance that the conversation can be complicated. Knowing how to deal with these types of situations can help us not only to make the situation more bearable for both parties, but also to communicate better.

4 tips to facilitate a difficult conversation

# 1 – Find the right time to speak

Talking to another about something important requires finding a time when both parties have time for it and are also willing. It is necessary to have time to present the topic you want to talk about and also give the other time to raise their point of view. The rush is not good allies in these situations.

Also, planning the moment and meeting the other person to talk about something in particular is giving you the opportunity to prepare your argument.

What’s more, meeting to talk about something gives the conversation relevant importance and makes both parties take it more seriously.

Not scheduling the conversation is the easiest way to avoid it. However, even if it is uncomfortable, sometimes it is necessary to go through certain moments.

# 2 – Start the conversation smoothly

According to couple psychology expert Dr. John Gottman, most conversations end the way they begin. Therefore, starting the conversation in a gentle and calm way, although it does not guarantee anything, does give us hope of ending in the same way.

Given this, what is almost certain is that it is very difficult to end well a conversation that starts out aggressively and harshly. You just have to look back and review some difficult conversations you’ve had or analyze how normal conversations started that started badly.

# 3 – Maintain eye contact with the other

Eye contact is important and important things are best not done over the phone or by writing an email. Eye contact helps to understand the other and empathize with him. If you cannot have a face-to-face conversation, technology offers other solutions to bring the interlocutors closer together (eg videoconferences). It is not the same, but it is an option when we cannot have a face-to-face conversation.

The written word can lead to misinterpretations. On the other hand, the telephone does not allow to read the body language of the other or to attend to other signals that can completely change the meaning of words.

# 4 – listen after speaking

Active listening is important. The other also has things to say. Thus, it is important to consider it, and not just let it speak. There may have been misunderstandings to clarify, or issues to explain that were not clear and that may facilitate a solution.

Conclusions

Difficult conversations can be eased and made more bearable if we put our minds to it. Another thing is that you or your interlocutor likes to argue: that sick vice that does not allow you to advance in life and in human relationships.

If you are afraid to discuss something with someone, try these tips. What’s more, propose to the other to try. You are sure to be in for a surprise.