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The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Chris Wong & Lucie Tesarova
Ever had to have that difficult conversation with someone that you dreaded? You are not alone. Join us to explore how to improve how you handle difficult conversations with your team or loved ones. When we communicate better, we lead better, we perform better, we have better relationships, results and ultimately, a better life. Ready to learn? Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any future episode. Want to be a guest on our podcast? Let us know! https://bit.ly/3z4Sn5w
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- 3 days ago24 min
Unlock Your Potential with CIDER Strategies: A Step-by-Step Guide
In this interview with leadership coach Lucie Tesarova, Tina Paulus-Krause shares her transformative methodology, CIDER strategies, designed to help individuals achieve clarity, set intentions, maintain discipline, and manage energy for personal and professional growth. Discover practical tools for self-awareness, overcoming burnout, and creating a meaningful leadership legacy. 00:04 The CIDER Methodology for Transformation 12:16 Self-Awareness and Grace in Leadership 16:11 Key Takeaways and Legacy in Leadership Resources & Links Tina Paulus Krause - Official Website Your Leadership Legacy Podcast Connect with Tina: LinkedIn Website Contact us: Email – tas.difficultconversations@gmail.com Chris – https://www.myleadershippotential.com | www.linkedin.com/in/chriswonglmhc | download the Difficult Conversation Playbook for Leaders Lucie – www.mindfittery.com | www.linkedin.com/in/lucietesarova and take the Saboteur Assessment
- 1 weeks ago33 min
From Burnout to Bliss: Transformational Leadership and Self-Awareness with Tina Paulus Krause (part 1)
In this inspiring interview, Tina Pullous Kraus shares her transformative journey from burnout and personal struggles to becoming a transformation trainer. Discover practical insights on emotional intelligence, authentic leadership, and how to create lasting change in your life and relationships. Chapters 00:00 From Burnout to Bliss: A Personal Journey 04:54 Generational Healing and Transformation 10:18 Awareness and Emotional Intelligence 13:47 Difficult Conversations: Starting with Ourselves 18:18 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs and Shame 23:11 Redefining Leadership: Collaboration Over Control 25:05 Defining Core Values Resources & Links Tina Paulus Krause - Official Website Your Leadership Legacy Podcast Connect with Tina: LinkedIn Website Contact us: Email – tas.difficultconversations@gmail.com Chris – https://www.myleadershippotential.com | www.linkedin.com/in/chriswonglmhc | download the Difficult Conversation Playbook for Leaders Lucie – www.mindfittery.com | www.linkedin.com/in/lucietesarova and take the Saboteur Assessment
- 2 weeks ago20 min
How to address underperformance when the employee is a friend (Part 2 with Ashley Cox)
In our follow up to last week’s episode, Ashley and Chris continue talking about navigating difficult conversations, especially when dealing with friends or family in a professional setting. Especially when they start bringing things back up or get more defensive, it can feel like you’re on the edge of losing an employee AND a friend. Hear how Ashley walks us through: - How to address underperformance in friends or family. - How to maintain your humanity to be an effective leader. - How to set clear boundaries and expectations prevent future conflicts. - How to use empathy and understanding to resolve issues with friends or family. - How to take ownership to turn problems into opportunities for growth. About Ashley Ashley Cox, PHR, SHRM-CP is a leadership mentor for ambitious women business owners who have a team but no time. She empowers them to become courageous and confident leaders, and build high-performance teams they can trust and rely on (without constantly chasing them to get things done). Ashley is also a sought-after speaker, author of the book Transform Your Stories, and host of The Impact Ripple Podcast Connect with Ashley Website: www.ashleycox.co Book: www.ashleycox.co/transform Podcast: www.ashleycox.co/podcast LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyncox Instagram: www.instagram.com/ashleycox.co Facebook: www.facebook.com/ashleycox.co Contact us: Email – tas.difficultconversations@gmail.com Chris – https://www.myleadershippotential.com | www.linkedin.com/in/chriswonglmhc | download the Difficult Conversation Playbook for Leaders Lucie – www.mindfittery.com | www.linkedin.com/in/lucietesarova and take the Saboteur Assessment
- 3 weeks ago21 min
How can women in leadership thrive? (Part 1 with Ashley Cox)
In this week’s interview, Ashley Cox, a leadership mentor and expert in women in business, joins Chris to share her insights on leadership, gender dynamics, and building successful, people-centered businesses. Lucie, unfortunately couldn’t make it, but Ashley and Chris still had a great time talking about the specific barriers that women face. Together, Ashley talks about: How to balance profitability with compassion The unique barriers that women face How to reframe some of the mindsets women are raised with About Ashley Ashley Cox, PHR, SHRM-CP is a leadership mentor for ambitious women business owners who have a team but no time. She empowers them to become courageous and confident leaders, and build high-performance teams they can trust and rely on (without constantly chasing them to get things done). Ashley is also a sought-after speaker, author of the book Transform Your Stories, and host of The Impact Ripple Podcast Connect with Ashley Website: www.ashleycox.co Book: www.ashleycox.co/transform Podcast: www.ashleycox.co/podcast LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyncox Instagram: www.instagram.com/ashleycox.co Facebook: www.facebook.com/ashleycox.co Contact us: Email – tas.difficultconversations@gmail.com Chris – https://www.myleadershippotential.com | www.linkedin.com/in/chriswonglmhc | download the Difficult Conversation Playbook for Leaders Lucie – www.mindfittery.com | www.linkedin.com/in/lucietesarova and take the Saboteur Assessment
- May 5, 202618 min
How to deal with difficult emotions in Difficult Conversations (Part 2 with Laura Morgan)
If last week was helpful (or if you didn’t watch it, go back now and listen!), this week kicks it up to the next level. In part 2 of their conversation with Laura Morgan, she helps us navigate some tricky situations: - What if someone is yelling at you? - What if they start crying? - What if they’re using crying intentionally to manipulate and get out of consequences? - What if they keep harping on “how things used to be”? Laura is the real deal, and she gives us some great strategies to navigate the hardest situations. About Laura Laura Morgan began her career as a psychotherapist, where she developed a deep understanding of human behavior, transformation, and the conditions that allow people to grow and thrive. That clinical foundation continues to shape her work today, informing a leadership approach grounded in empathy, insight, and intentional design. Laura is currently the Director of Human Resources at Meketa Investment Group, where she partners with senior leaders to shape talent strategy, compensation philosophy, and organizational culture. She is passionate about building systems and environments where clarity, trust, and purpose enable both people and organizations to reach their full potential. Contact Laura: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-m-morgan/ Contact us: Email – tas.difficultconversations@gmail.com Chris – https://www.myleadershippotential.com | www.linkedin.com/in/chriswonglmhc | download the Difficult Conversation Playbook for Leaders Lucie – www.mindfittery.com | www.linkedin.com/in/lucietesarova and take the Saboteur Assessment
- Apr 28, 202619 min
How to get comfortable with emotions in difficult conversations (Part 1 with Laura Morgan)
One of the most common questions we get is “how do we manage the emotions that inevitably come up in difficult conversations?” And our guest this week, Laura Morgan, knows exactly how to deal with it. With a background as a mental health therapist and now as an HR Director, she’s no stranger to heavy emotions in difficult situations of all kinds. But, as she describes it – emotions aren’t a bad thing, and we need to learn how to lean into them. Laura walks us through how: - Emotions are data, not obstacles, in conversations. - Preparing for the emotional aspects is as just as important as the content. - Ownership of emotions involves acknowledgment and responsibility. - Pausing and grounding techniques help regulate emotional responses - People aren’t robots, and while we don’t have to dig into every aspect of their personal lives, we have to acknowledge what makes them human. About Laura Laura is Director of HR at Meketa Investment Group. She’s passionate about reshaping organizational landscapes, bringing a holistic approach to shaping organizational dynamics. Her journey from a psychotherapist to HR leadership has equipped her with a profound understanding of human behavior, resilience, and growth.Laura holds dual US/UK citizenship, bringing a global perspective to leadership and is dedicated to creating workplaces where every voice is heard and valued. Contact Laura: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-m-morgan/ Contact us: Email – tas.difficultconversations@gmail.com Chris – https://www.myleadershippotential.com | www.linkedin.com/in/chriswonglmhc | download the Difficult Conversation Playbook for Leaders Lucie – www.mindfittery.com | www.linkedin.com/in/lucietesarova and take the Saboteur Assessment
- Apr 21, 202620 min
How to Deliver Bad News Effectively with Dr. Toby Campbell (Part 2)
Explore effective strategies for delivering bad news, managing difficult conversations, and fostering a supportive team culture with our guest today, Toby Campbell. Learn practical techniques, metaphors, and leadership insights to improve communication skills. About Dr. Toby Campbell Dr. Toby Campbell is Professor of Medicine, Thoracic Oncologist, Chief of Palliative Care and the Ellen and Peter O. Johnson Chair in Palliative Care at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. An award-winning doctor, writer, and podcaster, he conducts the most difficult, "once in a lifetime" type conversations with people and families every day and translates those skills into lessons for anyone who wants to make their hard conversations go better. His communication tools have been featured on NPR, The Colbert Report, and Armchair Expert. He is currently writing A Doctor's Guide to Hard Conversations (Post Hill Press) and created the Extraordinary Conversations podcast, exploring the rare and pivotal moments when lives intersect around organ donation and transplantation. Dr. Campbell created and hosts the Palliatively Speaking podcast, where he interviews inspirational figures from the field of hospice and palliative care. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Warm-Up00:06 Delivering Bad News Effectively05:45 Self-Regulation in Difficult Conversations08:32 Creating a Supportive Team Culture Make sure you listen to part 1 of this interview here. We cover: Strategies for delivering bad news Using metaphors to understand conversations Building team culture for hard conversations Managing emotions during difficult talks Leadership tips for effective communication Resources: Extraordinary Conversations Podcast - https://extraordinaryconversationspodcast.com We Talk Labs - https://wetalklabs.org Mindfitter Be Free Assessment - https://mindfitter.com/befree Difficult Conversation Playbook for Leaders Connect with the Hosts Email – tas.difficultconversations@gmail.com Chris – https://www.myleadershippotential.com | www.linkedin.com/in/chriswonglmhc | download the Difficult Conversation Playbook for Leaders Lucie – www.mindfittery.com | www.linkedin.com/in/lucietesarova and take the Saboteur Assessment
- Apr 14, 202629 min
How to Deliver Bad News: Insights from end-of-life conversations (Part 1)
In this episode, Dr. Toby Campbell, an oncologist and expert in serious illness conversations, shares insights on how to navigate difficult medical discussions, especially around delivering bad news and organ donation. Discover practical frameworks, emotional engagement techniques, and the importance of communication skills in high-stakes situations. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Warm-Up 00:00 Navigating Difficult Conversations in Healthcare 08:25 The Impact of Personal Experience on Professional Practice 09:20 Exploring the Transplant Experience 10:13 The Evolution of Organ Donation 13:17 The Emotional Journey of Donor Families 15:03 Training for Difficult Conversations 18:34 Empathy in Communication 22:27 Navigating Emotional Conversations 27:09 Delivering Bad News Effectively 29:14 Creating a Supportive Team Culture About Dr. Toby Campbell Dr. Toby Campbell is Professor of Medicine, Thoracic Oncologist, Chief of Palliative Care and the Ellen and Peter O. Johnson Chair in Palliative Care at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. An award-winning doctor, writer, and podcaster, he conducts the most difficult, "once in a lifetime" type conversations with people and families every day and translates those skills into lessons for anyone who wants to make their hard conversations go better. His communication tools have been featured on NPR, The Colbert Report, and Armchair Expert. He is currently writing A Doctor's Guide to Hard Conversations (Post Hill Press) and created the Extraordinary Conversations podcast, exploring the rare and pivotal moments when lives intersect around organ donation and transplantation. Dr. Campbell created and hosts the Palliatively Speaking podcast, where he interviews inspirational figures from the field of hospice and palliative care. Connect with the Hosts Email – tas.difficultconversations@gmail.com Chris – https://www.myleadershippotential.com | www.linkedin.com/in/chriswonglmhc | download the Difficult Conversation Playbook for Leaders Lucie – www.mindfittery.com | www.linkedin.com/in/lucietesarova and take the Saboteur Assessment
About The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations
Ever had to have that difficult conversation with someone that you dreaded? You are not alone. Join us to explore how to improve how you handle difficult conversations with your team or loved ones. When we communicate better, we lead better, we perform better, we have better relationships, results and ultimately, a better life. Ready to learn? Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any future episode. Want to be a guest on our podcast? Let us know! https://bit.ly/3z4Sn5w
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