Preparing for an important conversation

A difficult conversation fails when you go into it on emotions without a plan. An assistant is like a sparring partner: it helps you rehearse and see the other side. Mechanics: you give the situation, your goal and what is known about the interlocutor - the model builds the structure of the conversation and plays out possible answers. The key thing they forget to give is the goal: what you really want at the end (not “speak out”, but “agree on a new schedule”). Insider: Ask your assistant to play the role of the interlocutor and answer harshly, as in the worst-case scenario, and you will push your arguments under pressure before, not during, the conversation. The second technique: ask to formulate your position through the interest of your interlocutor ('how it benefits him'), and not just through your own. People hear when it's about them. It is useful to prepare one calm phrase in case you are overwhelmed by emotions. A typical mistake: prepare only your own remarks and ignore what the other person will answer. A conversation is not a monologue; Without taking into account someone else’s reaction, the workpiece will crumble at the first objection.