In today’s dynamic workplace, mastering hard conversations and managing conflict is crucial for women.
As the workplace becomes more complex and diverse, the ability to navigate tough discussions and manage conflicts can significantly enhance your career growth, job satisfaction, and overall team productivity. These skills are not just beneficial—they are essential. Conflict in the workplace is inevitable.
For the past 16 years, Mark Rosenberg has worked as an Executive Coach and Mediator, helping clients enhance their communication and conflict management skills. Rosenberg has recently published his audiobook, Mastering Hard Conversations: Turning Conflict into Collaboration, explaining “I wrote and recorded Mastering Hard Conversations to share the successful frameworks and tips that I have used for clients with a broader audience”.
There are six reasons it’s important for women to develop their communication and conflict management skills.
Career development
Mastering hard conversations can be a game-changer for career advancement. Women who effectively articulate their viewpoints, even in challenging situations, are often seen as strong leaders. They are more likely to be considered for promotions and leadership roles. Being perceived as someone who can manage conflict, stay calm under pressure, listen effectively, and influence others is a major advantage when organisations decide on promotions.
Enhanced Relationships
Effective communication fosters better relationships with colleagues, superiors, and clients. Women who can manage conflicts constructively are more likely to gain respect and build stronger professional networks.
Boost confidence
Developing conflict management and communication skills boosts confidence. Women who are equipped with these skills feel more empowered to voice their opinions and address issues head-on.
Better Team Performance
Women who are comfortable with conflict, who can mediate disputes and navigate tough conversations help build cohesive and high-performing teams. This skill is invaluable in maintaining team morale, boosting performance and ensuring that the inevitable conflict which occurs in teams, enhances – rather than hinders – productivity.
Personal Growth
Learning how to engage in difficult conversations promotes personal growth. It helps women develop resilience, emotional intelligence, and assertiveness. These traits are essential not only in professional settings but also in personal life. Getting better at having tough conversations in your personal life builds relationships and models behaviour for everyone in the family.
The challenges of gender bias
Gender bias in the workplace means it is critical for women to hone their ability to have hard conversations. Power dynamics can make it particularly challenging for women to address conflicts involving men in higher positions. The fear of repercussions, such as being sidelined or labelled as troublemakers, can deter women from speaking up. Studies have shown that women are often perceived differently than men when they engage in assertive communication. Women who are assertive can be labelled as aggressive or difficult, whereas men exhibiting the same behaviour might be seen as strong and decisive.
Rosenberg notes that it’s important for women to learn how to challenge and be assertive in a way that is perceived as being reasonable rather than aggressive or difficult.
He notes that women’s voices are often undervalued or ignored, making it challenging for them to influence. “Too many times have I seen women say something that is ignored in meetings, only to have the male dominated group support the same comment when made by a man five minutes later. Women need to demonstrate that while they may have a collaborative style, they are not afraid to push back and have the hard conversations. They need to balance collaboration and empathy with “composed assertiveness”. It’s important to master the art of being “reasonably” assertive.”
Rosenberg says one of the keys to this is learning to manage emotions and ask great open questions. Practicing the notion of taking a breath, leaning in and saying things like “can you help me understand”…or “I’m concerned about…how do you think we can best address that?”
Mastering Hard Conversations is an easy read or listen (the audiobook runs for 5 hours and 11 minutes). Rosenberg succinctly provides practical tips, useful frameworks, and some clear case studies to illustrate how to develop your skills. He shares a simple step by step framework on how to prepare for tough conversations and there is a great overview on how to polish your hard conversation skills: staying calm, self-reflecting, perspective taking, listening under pressure, asking open questions and speaking with clarify. There is also a useful chapter on giving and receiving feedback. The final chapter headed “Dealing with certifiable assholes” is particularly useful.
For professional women in Australia, mastering difficult conversations and conflict management is not just a professional necessity—it is a strategic advantage. By developing these skills, women can overcome gender-specific challenges, enhance their career prospects, and contribute to creating a more inclusive and effective workplace. Embracing the ability to navigate hard conversations with confidence and skill is a vital step towards achieving personal and professional success. Rosenberg’s Mastering Hard Conversations is a valuable contribution.
Find more about Mark Rosenberg’s Mastering Hard Conversations here.