5: Straight Talk with Employees is About Clarity not Conflict

I remember my first manager-level role — one with employees to train, develop, and retrain should performance fall below expectations. I loved it when my team and I were like a well-oiled machine and never thought about how I would feel if we weren’t.

So I was unprepared when my own manager asked me to have a difficult conversation with an employee whom she suspected was stealing from the business. Whether or not I was prepared, it was a conversation I had to have.

​In hindsight, I can see that I didn’t receive the best direction from my supervisor (perhaps my fears prevented me from really hearing her). Instead I did the best I could do in the moment.

Do any of these feeling sound familiar to you?

I decided to get rid of any expectations that this would be a conversation of conflict. I got curious instead.

It was a productive, personable, and successful straightforward talk. Your next one can be too.
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In this episode I share the approach I take when I’m curious about an employee's behavior or performance. Listen for opportunities to make your next “talk” a little easier by trying a clarification-first approach. In this episode I talk about:

• Feelings that may arise when preparing to have a direct conversation with an employee
  
• The difference between clarity and conflict, and types of conflict in the workplace
  
• Ways to search for clarity about an employee behavior or performance
  
• Why asking questions can be the most appropriate way to understand a circumstance or situation
  

After you’ve listened, it’s time to take action! Remember: Knowledge and action are most effective when applied within the context of your unique business, using your unique style.

To help you find your path to business growth, take my free 60-second Retail Success Style quiz at MerchantMethod.com/Quiz​. I can’t wait to learn more about you!

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