Out of Combat: Changing the Game--Finding Balance in Difficult Conversations

Because a combat conversation is a struggle between winning and losing, it has to be unbalanced. We must change the game and move away from the combat model of difficult conversation to one with better odds of working well and inflicting less damage. We should prepare for conversations by working out our preferred outcome, preferred working relationship, and interferences. This will keep us realistic and strategically focused on the situation we have and the one we want.