The ability to have difficult conversations is an essential leadership skill. How can leaders effectively convey a message that another person doesn’t want to hear?

Not many people like having difficult conversations. Yet, the reality is that, as leaders, we must be willing to sit with the difficult feelings involved and engage in hard conversations. From ...

Whether they’re about giving tough feedback, addressing conflict or navigating sensitive issues with stakeholders, having difficult conversations is an inevitable part of leadership. How you handle ...

Sometimes you need to have a difficult conversation with a coworker. Perhaps they did something to upset you, or perhaps they engage in an ongoing behavior that is troublesome. These conversations are ...

When the world of work turned upside down in 2020, we quickly adapted to Zoom calls, Slack threads and digital whiteboards. At first, this newfound flexibility felt liberating. But as we settle into a ...

This Q&A is part of Observer’s Expert Insights series, where industry leaders, innovators and strategists distill years of experience into direct, practical takeaways and deliver clarity on the issues ...

When it comes to taking on difficult conversations with employees, many leaders would rather do almost anything else. The thing is, if you’re a leader, you don’t want to do anything that might upset ...

I was traveling in the days immediately following Oct. 7, 2023, and consequently had my TA teaching my doctoral research methods class that week. When I returned the following week, I started the ...

Difficult conversations about performance should not be the norm for any business, but sometimes they are unavoidable. Here’s how to navigate them successfully. Tackling difficult conversations with ...

Today’s very best leaders stand out in great part because they have developed and honed the ability to skillfully handle difficult conversations. It’s this ability to talk with employees about ...

Most unlucky people have found themselves thrust into difficult conversations at some point in their lives. Whether it's a demanding boss or an upset partner, learning how to navigate these ...

Sometimes holidays can lead to tense conversations — if not everyone shares the same set of facts. NPR's Life Kit has some tips for navigating those conversations and setting the record straight. For ...