109. Mastering Tough Conversations

Most leaders avoid having ‘tough conversations.’ If they were easy, everyone would be addressing challenging issues with people in their lives. In this episode, David Wood, founder of Focus CEO, shares his experiences with difficult conversations and how he turned them into opportunities for growth and connection. From a devastating childhood trauma that shut down his emotions, to relationships, to his later professional life, David had to get vulnerable and be okay with risking everything to approach many challenging interactions with confidence. The episode explores the power of ‘eating the frog’ first thing in the morning, using a ‘cheat sheet’, and role-playing as methods to handle these conversations. 

After life as a consulting actuary to Fortune 100 Companies, David built the world’s largest coaching business, becoming #1 on Google for “life coaching”. He believes the tough conversations we avoid are our doorways to confidence, success and even love -in both work and life. David coaches high performing entrepreneurs, executives and teams – and even prison inmates – to amazing results AND connection. One conversation at a time.

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Discussion Points

• David’s lifelong trauma response due to a childhood tragedy
• Coaching and the process of fixing your past traumas
• Tools to approach difficult conversations
• Confronting old bully through tough conversation
• Tackling challenging tasks early in the day
• Navigating difficult discussions in life
• Using a ‘cheat sheet’ and role-playing for preparation
• How difficult conversations can build trust and connection
• The daunting nature of tough conversations and facing them
• Earning back trust from an old girlfriend
• Saying ‘I love you’ to his parents for the first time
• Making difficult conversations more productive
• Managing emotions when someone reacts negatively
• The value of mastering difficult conversations.
• 3 Key Takeaways: 
  1. Confident leaders address uncomfortable truths
  2. Confident leaders have the right tough conversation 
  3. Confident leaders practice their courage
• Feel free to leave your feedback about the show

Resources:

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Focus CEO 

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Focus CEO Twitter

Book: The Mouse in the Room

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If you have any questions for Brendan around this episode or generally around culture, leadership, or teamwork, feel free to contact him here