CrucialSkills, the official VitalSmarts blog
Helping you change behavior by answering your questions about soft skills.
My house is the place family chooses to gather for the holiday. This Thanksgiving I wanted to make sure everyone was safe so I told them we would not be having a family gathering. The family showed up anyway, each with a reason why it was okay for them to come. How do you lovingly shut the door to uninvited guests who are putting you at risk?
I have a few employees who are unhappy with the change in our government’s administration and they tend to be very outspoken. I believe people shouldn’t discuss politics in the workplace, especially if they’re just voicing opinions to someone who hasn’t asked for them. How should I address this with the people in my office so we can continue to work together peacefully?
How do you deal with people who have not just a different opinion, but a dangerous one? I’m referring to those who believe in conspiracy theories or other misinformation about Covid-19. Their opinions lead to behavior that puts others at risk.
Dear Emily, I’ve used the techniques from Crucial Conversations in both personal and business situations with success but am now faced with the most critical conversation ever and I don’t know what to do. My husband has become increasingly enmeshed in politics. He is almost blindly devoted to Donald Trump […]
Dear Joseph, How should I respectfully approach a co-worker about her pungent perfume? I can tell she’s been down the hall even after she’s been gone for five or ten minutes. The scent lingers and is foul to me; after encountering it I begin to feel nauseous. She’s a very […]
Dear Scott, I am in the process of training a coworker. When I give her an assignment, she gives me a snarky reason why she can’t do it. I have been trying to help her with time-management. When I give reasons for what I am asking, she says I’m mothering […]
Dear Joseph, What had the biggest impact on you writing Crucial Conversations? Signed, Backstory Dear Backstory, Thanks for asking! Your question gave me a chance to walk down memory lane. The Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said, “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” Looking back, […]
Dear Justin, In our organization we are meeting more than ever but our meeting effectiveness is down dramatically. The issues we see include: No clear direction Too much time spent ranting or venting Less listening and more talking Stuff not getting done How do we get to effective and efficient […]
