In business, leadership, and personal relationships, the ability to manage difficult conversations is a critical skill. Whether it is addressing underperformance, negotiating a contract, delivering ...

If you can say no without escalating. If you can repeat your limit without over-explaining. If you can tolerate someone’s ...

The Fast Company Executive Board is a private, fee-based network of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. BY Magdalena Nowicka Mook We ...

Picture this: you’ve spent hours tidying the house and preparing delicious dishes. Finally, friends and family have begun to arrive. You all sit down to eat, and the conversations around life updates ...

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 ...

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 ...

By now you've probably used AI to help you write difficult emails and other messages. It can also help you prepare for a tough conversation. Here's how.

Disappointment, hurt, boundaries, power, change, or loss—no matter how emotionally challenging the topic, they’re all ...

Working with senior executives taught me that leaders who advance their careers don't avoid tough conversations that make everyone else uncomfortable. Instead, they've figured out how to turn those ...

Some families learn to embrace the awkwardness and tension that come with unresolved discussions. This not only fosters an unhealthy communication style for their children, but also leaves conflicts ...