MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP
The Five Steps for Having Tough Conversations BY GERARD PENNA
BY GERARD PENNA
Many leaders avoid tough conversations. As a result, they contribute to mediocrity, and perpetuate an unsatisfactory status quo. They leave other people unaware of the problems and challenges that are theirs to solve and make progress with. My work has focused on revealing the differences between more extraordinary leaders, and the average, typical, ho-hum leadership we tolerate in our daily lives. 26 | iQ June 2022
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ne key I have discovered is how they use tough conversations to transform relationships and outcomes. How do more remarkable leaders torque the odds in their favour that a tough conversation will be an effective one? Here’s five steps that I’ve learned from observing, coaching and teaching leaders for more than three decades in countless board rooms, back offices and break rooms.
