In this episode, Ross Saunders and David Gouthro explore the complexities of tough conversations in management. They discuss the definition of tough conversations, the reasons people avoid them, and the consequences of inaction. David emphasizes the importance of courage and preparation, including role-playing and understanding personal values. The conversation also touches on the distinction between playing to win versus playing not to lose, and how to handle surprises during tough discussions. The episode concludes with practical advice for approaching difficult conversations with confidence and agency.
Takeaways
About David
A seasoned (but not too spicy!) speaker with over 40 years experience, David is a sought after consultant who is best known for his creative presentations, playful demeanor, and relentless focus on delivering value to his clients, colleagues and community.
David’s experience comes from supporting clients on four continents, in organizations that range from mining, energy, healthcare and financial services . . . to high tech, biotech, government and the not-for profit sector.
As the father of a recently married, precocious 24 year old daughter Anna, he has been forced to embrace the qualities of humility, patience, good humour and . . . acceptance of his own parental inadequacies!
The main focus of his current business involves working with individuals and groups who have no one else to point to as excuses for their own inaction. This has led him to spend the majority of his time helping executive teams and Boards make the tough decisions required to grow their businesses in a complex and unpredictable economic environment.
However, his deepest personal passion is to help people discover the courage he believes they all possess—and then inspire them to act on it.
https://davidgouthro.com/
About your host, Ross:
Ross started his management career by being promoted from technical specialist to manager of a global team. This was not an easy transition at first but it blossomed into an exciting management career spanning over a decade in corporate and enterprise software environments. Ross has managed development teams, technical teams, call centres, and entire software divisions across several countries.
Intro music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/vacation-beat
License code: WM2CBDQ0C2W0JGBW
Outro music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/vacation-beat
License code: WM2CBDQ0C2W0JGBW
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