Facing Difficult Conversataions Flashcards
What is the 3 part framework for having difficult conversations?
- Acknowledge and validate
- this allows the emotion to be identified and gives room for the person to think logically to accept or reject and slow down the cognitive process to clearly express themselves - Get curious with compassion
- ask questions in a way that is respectful and shows you are genuinely interested in understanding - Joint problem-solve
- conversations need to stay focused on the impact and outcome
What steps should you take prior to having difficult conversations?
Share your frustration with a trusted mentor or confidant.
Write out your feeling detailing what happened and how you felt.
Plan for the conversation.
Execute.
How do you execute having a difficult conversation?
First, carefully think about word choice.
Second, schedule the conversation in a private, neutral location.
Third, remember the three Fs: facts, feelings, and future
Describe the three Fs when executing a difficult conversation.
Facts
- be specific
- emphasize observed behaviors
- focus on facts detailing who, when, and where the incident took place
Feelings
- communicate the emotion you felt based on the actions you described
- personalize and use “I” statements
Future
- relay to the person what you’d like for the future regarding their behavior
How can you be an advocate?
An advocate is someone who acts, learns, listens, and yields their privilege.
It is a powerful way to support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
It is a choice. A choice to get involved. A choice to act. Recognize that silence and neutrality are NOT being an advocate
What is the ADDRESS model to intervene with microaggressions?
Acknowledge - something occurred
Dialogue - in the moment or with someone later
Document - tell someone
Redirect - the conversation
Educate - the person
Stop - the exclusionary behavior
Support - the people impacted and make space to support yourself
