Navigating Tough Conversations: Jon Gordon & The Elephant in the Room

I am reading Jon Gordon’s latest book, Difficult Conversations Don’t Have to Be Difficult. This book has been very insightful and is a must for anyone in a leadership role—whether you're a manager, coach, teacher, or team leader. It's also incredibly valuable for families striving to communicate more effectively.

As a basketball coach, I've seen firsthand how critical it is to equip our players with the skills to navigate challenging conversations. The ability to handle these discussions with confidence and empathy is beneficial not only on the court but also in every aspect of life.

One practical approach to easing the tension in tough conversations is incorporating a technique from Gordon’s book. We start by creating a safe and open environment where everyone feels heard. This involves active listening, positive framing, empathy, and understanding.

Check out this video, where I discuss how I start tough conversations with my team.

Produced by: Brett Ledbetter, Becky Burleigh, and Lisa Kuntz.

What Drives Winning features real conversations with top minds in sport centering around character development, priority alignment, team cohesion, behavior management and self-awareness. #WhatDrivesWinning

Darris Nichols

Darris Nichols is the head men’s basketball coach at Radford University. He has also spent time as an assistant coach at Florida (2015-2021), Louisiana Tech (2014-15), Wofford (2013-14), and Northern Kentucky (2011-13). He played college basketball at West Virginia University (2004-08), twice a recipient of the Big East Academic All-Star and Sportsmanship Award and earned the 2008 Fred Schaus Captain Award for WVU intercollegiate athletics.

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