FAQ of the Month
I need to have a difficult conversation with someone at work, and I'm not looking forward to it. Any tips?
Confronting colleagues isn’t something anyone relishes, but it’s something everyone must do from time to time. Here are three ways to tackle the challenge with grace and professionalism:
Give the benefit of the doubt. Before you rush to a confrontation, do you have all the information? Ask clarifying questions and address any gaps in your knowledge first.
Have conversations in person. Yes, it might feel more comfortable to let emails do the talking and avoid a potentially awkward encounter. This tends to backfire, though, given the myriad ways that written communication can be (mis)interpreted. In addition, you never know who might receive a forward of that hastily-written email -- better to opt for the face-to-face.
Pick your battles. Needless to say, you don’t have to confront everyone, every time. Decide which things require action and which can be left alone. If you suspect a recurring problem, document any incidents so you’ll have the background info you need to seek help from a supervisor.
