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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Can We Talk? summary
Seven Principles for Managing Difficult Conversations at Work
23 mins
Brief summary
'Can We Talk?' by Roberta Chinsky Matuson is a guide for managers to improve their communication with employees. The book provides practical tools and tips to facilitate open and honest conversations, leading to a more engaged and productive workplace.
Table of Contents
Can We Talk?
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
Confidence is the key to productive communication.
Do you want the bad news or the good news first?
Let’s start with the bad news. There’s no handbook for navigating difficult workplace conversations, no manual on how to ask your boss to stop micromanaging, and no step-by-step guide on how to tell Gary from accounts that he has onion breath.
The good news, however, is that if you understand the seven principles of effective workplace communication, these difficult conversations will start to become a whole lot easier.
So, let’s start with the first of our seven principles: confidence.
Confidence is key to navigating difficult workplace situations productively.
To begin with, you need confidence to initiate conversations. Marketing manager Rishi lacked the confidence to pull his boss aside and ask for a raise, even though he’d taken on more responsibility since his team downsized. Instead, he fell into a common trap. He had the conversation in his head. Over and over and over. Each time, Rishi imagined his boss giving more and more reasons to refuse his raise. Until eventually, he talked himself out of approaching his boss at all. The problem? You can’t anticipate someone else’s reaction. If Rishi’d had the confidence to request a raise, his boss may well have approved it.
Without confidence, you can ignore your gut instincts and derail working relationships in the process. That’s exactly what happened to Danielle, whose boss pulled her up on a shoddy report. Danielle knew the report wasn’t her best work and her gut instinct was to offer her boss an unreserved apology. But self-doubt kicked in and Danielle reached for excuses. She blamed another department for giving her the wrong numbers. She implied her boss hadn’t allocated her enough time to finish the report. Danielle knew her boss wanted her to own her actions but she didn’t have enough confidence to do that. As a result, her relationship with her boss deteriorated.
But, when you are able to inspire confidence in others, you instantly reframe your tricky requests into reasonable asks. Louise had just started a new role when she was obliged to ask for time off to deal with a personal matter. She assured her boss she’d make up the work later. Her boss approved the leave instantly. Why? Well, Louise had already made several deposits into the bank of trust, by working late to meet a deadline and covering for a sick coworker. If Louise hadn’t proven herself a hard worker, her commitment to making up missed work might have just sounded like an empty promise.
In short, confidence is the key to initiating conversations, allowing your best instincts to dictate your dialogue, and priming others to respond favorably to your requests. So . . . should people lacking in self-confidence just give up on difficult conversations now?
Not at all. Confidence isn’t an innate quality but a muscle that can be trained. The Buddha says, “What we think, we become.” So think yourself confident! Start your day with an affirmation, a phrase that clarifies your ambitions and intentions into a positive statement. You can come up with your own, or try these on for size: I can do what I set my mind to. I’m strong and capable. I can rise to any challenge. Once you’re thinking confidently, challenge yourself to initiate difficult dialogues – but, where possible, try and start small. Tackle the least intimidating issues on your to-do list, then work up to bigger problems.
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What is Can We Talk? about?
Can We Talk? (2021) outlines the seven communication principles essential for successfully navigating difficult conversations in the workplace, be it asking for a promotion, delivering negative feedback, or resolving a professional conflict.
Can We Talk? Review
Can We Talk? (2022) is an insightful book that explores effective communication strategies for building strong relationships. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With practical tips and techniques, it empowers readers to improve their communication skills and foster meaningful connections with others.
- By sharing real-life examples and relatable stories, the book brings the concepts to life and makes them relatable to everyday situations.
- Its engaging approach and relatable anecdotes ensure that the book is far from boring, keeping readers engaged and interested from start to finish.
Who should read Can We Talk??
- People who struggle to assert themselves at work
- Employees who avoid having difficult conversations with their managers
- Managers who wish they could communicate better with their teams
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Can We Talk? FAQs
What is the main message of Can We Talk??
The main message of Can We Talk? is to improve communication skills for better relationships.
How long does it take to read Can We Talk??
The reading time for Can We Talk? varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Can We Talk? a good book? Is it worth reading?
Can We Talk? is a valuable read for anyone looking to enhance their communication skills. It provides practical insights and strategies for better conversations.
Who is the author of Can We Talk??
The author of Can We Talk? is Roberta Chinsky Matuson.
What to read after Can We Talk??
If you're wondering what to read next after Can We Talk?, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Getting Along by Amy Gallo
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle
- Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People by Renée Evenson
- The Power of a Positive No by William Ury
- Difficult Conversations Don't Have to Be Difficult by Jon Gordon & Amy P. Kelly
- Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone
- The Art of Talking with Children by Rebecca Rolland
- Weekend Language by Andy Craig
- The Purposeful Decision Maker by Pádraig Ó Céidigh
- This Is Your Brain on Food by Uma Naidoo
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