Quote:
Originally Posted by kipperiggy
Some workplaces have unions that overcomplicate trying to have difficult conversations.
Anyway, I took a leadership course here in Sasky that had a difficult conversations module. I wonder if most leadership courses do?
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They all do, but as I've mentioned above I think their definitions are a little too broad. Too many 'catch-all' categories. And the solution is always to step back and be diplomatic.
I'll give an example on the staff side. Asking the manager for a promotion or a pay-raise. For some people this is very easy, they do it confidently, and for others, it's death itself. I don't know if a course can conclude that it is difficult for everyone and here are the 5 best diplomatic ways to ask so there's no conflict. No, some people have marched right into my office and confronted me about it. They are not automatically in the wrong because they are not being diplomatic. Sometimes you have to challenger the manager, put his/her feet to the fire. They are not automatically wrong if the manager's feelings are hurt. My job as a manager is to assess their claims.
Another one is inappropriate behavior. You're taught to empathize, be respectful and find common ground? Why? It's inappropriate behavior according to workplace policies. Managers cannot just allow it to continue while everyone else has to be respectful.