Are you heading into a difficult conversation this week at work, possibly a conversation where have concerns about regarding how the person may react or feel?
If this is the case, check your
mental mindset about it. Reflect on how you will enter into the conversation: will it be with a positive attitude about the person, believing the best in them?
What do we mean by that?
Before you speak to the person, believe the best in the person.
Please enter into the conversation with the approach that they want to do their best. Always trust they wish to improve unless you are proven otherwise! This approach brings out the positive aspect of what could be perceived as a negative interaction. Although it may be hard for someone to hear they need to manage their time better, it is to help them in their career. Although it may be hard to listen to the fact their statistics need to improve, doing so will help them keep their job.
Having to discuss with someone where they need to improve is something you may need to do, but you can do so by believing the best of them. It is because you want to allow them to grow and improve, assuming they want the same thing, which is why you are having the conversation. Don't let your concern regarding how they will react takeover your opportunity to make a positive investment in their future. Focus on believing the best in them; that they want to do their best.
When we focus on our attitude and are prepared to enter into a conversation with a positive
attitude towards the person, it can make the difference from being emotional and stressed to
being professional, kind, and supportive.
Preparing for a potentially difficult conversation at work? Take 1 Corinthians 13:7 with you to work:
"(Love) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Taking this verse with you to work will remind you to:
Bear all things: don't go in with the mindset of criticizing them for what they are doing wrong but rather enter with the philosophy of helping them to improve.
Believe all things: go with the mindset of believing the best in them and that they also want to do their best.
Hope all things: enter with the optimistic mindset that they will follow through with your recommendations.
Endure all things: go with the practical mindset you may also need to further help them on their journey of improvement.
By choosing this mindset, you are taking God's love to work, which is what He wants us to do - to bring His love to others through our words and actions.
God bless you as you prepare for any difficult conversations, and may it be a wonderful week!