From the course: Practical Performance Management Tips for Managers

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How to have a difficult performance conversation

How to have a difficult performance conversation

From the course: Practical Performance Management Tips for Managers

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How to have a difficult performance conversation

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- When you realize you need to have a tough conversation about performance, it's natural to feel a little tense, even if you know it's the right thing to do. First, these conversations should almost always happen in a one-on-one setting. Sometimes if the whole team's running into the same issue, you might share a broader message in a team meeting, but when it comes to digging into the details with individual employees, those conversations should stay private. That's how you build trust and how you actually get to the real issues. Before you start, take a minute to ask yourself, why does this feel difficult? Sometimes it's about the other person, like if you know they're likely to get emotional. If that's the case, remember, they're bringing emotion because they care or because it feels personal to them. That's where empathy matters. And if you want more tools for handling emotional reactions, check out my course on Practical Empathy Tips for Managers. Other times, the difficulty is…

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