Time: < 1 Hour
STEP 1: Write down all of your thoughts that you want to get across to the person. Don’t worry about grammar, or if it’s the right words, or if it is in the right order… just get them on paper.
STEP 2: Once you’ve completed your brainstorming session, start re-writing it as a conversation. Note what you want to say as your opener, your examples, your concerns, and your close. If you know them well, you’ll likely know what types of questions they’ll ask, so answer those questions so they don’t have to ask.
STEP 3: Once you have your thoughts in order, practice your discussion either in front of the mirror or with a friend, confidant, or your HR representative at work. This will give you practice saying the words aloud which will increase your confidence and delivery. If you are role playing with someone ask for specific feedback (i.e. How does it sound? Am I getting my points across clearly? Is my body language matching up with my words? Is the tone accurate?)
STEP 4: You are ready for your conversation. Take a few deep breaths and recite some positive affirmations to get yourself in the right mindset. If it is appropriate, and you need a cheat sheet to remember everything, inform the other person that you made a few notes to refer to. Be calm and confident.
STEP 5: Afterwards, reflect on how the discussion went… did you say what you wanted to say? Did it go better or worse than expected? There are two questions you should always ask yourself (after all projects and interactions, not just this one):
- What are three things you did well?
- What are three things you can improve upon next time?
These questions will help you course correct and get better every time. Be proud that you had the courage to handle this difficult situation. You are stronger because of it.
