

204. Tough Talks: Turn Tension Into Trust
411 snips May 20, 2025
Sheila Heen, a Harvard Law School lecturer and co-author of the bestselling books on difficult conversations, shares her insights on navigating tough talks. She emphasizes the importance of self-reflection to tackle our internal narratives before engaging others. Heen introduces the 'ACE' framework for providing feedback and suggests transforming confrontations into understanding opportunities. She also discusses recognizing emotions and personal triggers, promoting clearer communication even in high-stakes situations that foster trust and collaboration.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Reframe Anxiety and Purpose
- Overcome anxiety by recognizing the potential costs of avoiding difficult conversations.
- Shift your purpose from convincing to understanding to reduce defensiveness and improve dialogue.
Manage Emotions by Naming Them
- Acknowledge and name your emotions aloud to manage them effectively during tough conversations.
- Address feelings openly rather than suppressing them to avoid emotional outbursts.
Challenge Your Own Story
- Recognize your own story in conflicts involves assumptions about rightness, blame, and others' intentions.
- Shifting perspective to curiosity about differing views invites a more productive conversation.