From the course: Communicating with Empathy

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Approaching difficult conversations as a listener

Approaching difficult conversations as a listener

From the course: Communicating with Empathy

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Approaching difficult conversations as a listener

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- Confrontation is tough, especially when it comes out of nowhere. But you, as the listener, have one specific advantage during difficult conversations, your reaction. First off, you have to manage your emotions. It's important to not immediately get defensive because when you do, you allow hurt and anger to cloud everything, and nothing gets done. Here's what I like to do. I listen intently. And here's why. More often than not, this difficult conversation is happening because the person initiating has some sort of grievance involving you. They have something to say. They want to say those words to you and they want you to hear those words. An enormous part of communicating with empathy is listening, especially when it is incredibly difficult to remain silent. When we give the person speaking the platform to be heard, it benefits both parties. The person speaking will be much more willing to dialogue if they feel…

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