When it comes to difficult conversations, avoiding the five big mistakes most people make is critical. Most people, not knowing how to avoid those mistakes, will simply choose to walk away from the conversation or avoid it.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t resolve the conflict that the difficult conversation is designed to overcome. The hurt feelings, frustrations, and fears that surround these topics remain, and continue to grow, in secret. Like an untreated infection, these negative factors grow into a lethal, toxic poison that, over time, kills the relationship.
It also doesn’t allow either party to grow from experience. Their blind spots remain, and they learn nothing except to become more cautious in who they choose to open up to about their beliefs, ideas, and thoughts.
There are many benefits to engaging in difficult conversations like these, even if they don’t feel comfortable at first.
- It forces individuals to re-examine what they believe and why they believe it, allowing them to discard beliefs that no longer serve them and adopt new beliefs that are more functional;
- It helps individuals to identify their own internal prejudices and biases, allowing them to see the truth more clearly;
- It ensures they are not blindly following the herd and helps to prevent groupthink from taking over;
- It will help them to grow in their understanding of why people think, believe, and act as they do, which will improve their ability to persuade others to join their side when the cause is worthy and just;
- It will increase their skills in explaining their beliefs to others in a manner that is not confrontational and will help them keep their cool when under pressure.
Path To Publishing doesn’t shy away from difficult conversations like those that center around racial divisions and the current state of race relations. We embrace them despite the difficulties, and we want to encourage others to embrace them, too.
That’s why we’ve chosen to crowdfund the book, The Price We Pay (being published under our traditional publishing imprint, PTP Press), and to equip our contributors to take an active role in leading these kinds of difficult conversations with the following resources:
- Magnetic Thought Leadership Training to equip them to lead these conversations in a way that creates an inviting, respectful space where all voices are recognized and seen as being of equal value.
- Lessons in how to hold difficult conversations that are productive and meaningful where both sides feel respected and heard, yet challenged and encouraged to find room for compromise.
- A Study Guide to navigating the challenges of discussing sensitive topics in an inter-racial community.
- A community of like-minded individuals who are ready and willing to lend their support and encouragement along the way.
To discover more about the novel and our approach to opening the doors of communication, visit our crowdfunding campaign page at https://ptppress.com/taking-a-novel-approach-to-change. Sign up to #JoinTheConversation.
Remember, many books and publications tackle subject matters that lead to hard conversations to have. This can often be awkward for some authors during readings and signing, or even during panel discussions and live videos.
To learn more about the training we offer at Path To Publishing to help you navigate your role as an author, thought-leader, or change-agent, which includes having, moderating, and leading tough conversations, email [email protected].