Small change: prepare the ground

The difference between a conversation that shifts something and one that goes nowhere is what happened before it started.

Leaders routinely walk into high-stakes conversations having thought about what they want to say but not about how the conversation needs to go. They haven’t considered the other person’s position, what success actually looks like, or where they’re willing to move. They rely on instinct and seniority, and then wonder why so many discussions end without resolution.

Preparation isn’t about scripting. It’s about creating the conditions for something useful to happen. The leaders who consistently have productive – if sometimes difficult – conversations are the ones who take the time to think about them in depth beforehand. It’s not complicated. It’s a discipline.

Something to consider: what conversation do I have pending that would benefit from thirty minutes of genuine preparation?

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