There’s nothing wrong with having problems with other people. The challenge is how you handle them. Here’s how to proceed in a healthy, helpful way:

How do we face tough issues? How can we confront problems in a way where the other person listens? You have to make it safe.

It’s not the way other people act that determines our emotions. It’s the stories we tell about WHY they act they way they do that cause our feelings. Control the stories, control the emotions. Here’s how:

Caffeine isn’t bad, but we need to understand its influence. It affects our immediate reactions, sleep quality, and long-term health. We don’t have to cut it out completely, but we must get it under control.

We can start solving problems instead of causing them. Switch to a healthier, more constructive mindset in just three steps.

At some point, we’ve all chosen to do what we feel like doing rather than doing what’s right. It’s human nature. But that’s not what we really want — for ourselves, our coworkers, or our employees.

People say “talk is cheap.” They’re wrong. Our words can make a difference in the actions that matter. Our willingness (and ability) to have crucial conversations impacts our results and relationships.

Emotions are hard to understand — especially in others. But, the more we understand feelings, the better we can respond. When we understand emotions and respond intentionally, our relationships improve — professional and personal.

90% of our communication is routine, regular, and casual. And we do really well at it! But what about the other 10%? These are the conversations that aren’t regular, routine, or casual. And this is where people melt-down.

We’re emotional creatures — we’re hardwired that way. But we’re not hardwired to know what to do about all those feelings. That’s where Emotional Intelligence (EQ) comes in. Raising your EQ changes the way you see yourself, the people around you, and the way you go about your work, particularly in HR.

If someone doesn’t want to talk with you, they won’t. Even if you were to practise every skill we teach in Crucial Conversations exactly the way we tell you to do it, you can’t force someone to open up. But if you persist, the other person almost always will join you — even if it takes some time.

Improving your conversation skills doesn’t require years of intense training. Even learning just one Crucial Conversations skill can transform the way you communicate with others!

After 30 years of Crucial Conversations, we’re still finding new ways to use these skills in everyday life. Here are two of the biggest lessons we’ve learned in the past decade.

When we connect and really get to know people, the workplace functions better, people work through their differences, and real meaning emerges. Learn how to build real connection, here:

To make a difference in the lives of those around us, we need to connect, and connection is only possible by being physically and mentally present.