Acas has published a guide on challenging conversations and how to handle them, which highlights that the ability to be able to talk about very sensitive and emotive issues is an integral part of effective line management and the temptation to avoid such conversations must be avoided.
A new guide published by Acas, Challenging conversations and how to manage, them, points out that for many people challenging or difficult conversations are a bit like the common cold: we all get them, they can be a real nuisance, but there seems to be no cure. Unlike the common cold, these conversations should not be avoided. The ability to be able to talk about very sensitive and emotive issues is an integral part of effective line management and can be critical to managing performance. Get it wrong and the employee may go absent, work less effectively or you may get landed with a grievance. Get it right and you can improve levels of performance, attendance and employee engagement. The Guide highlights the practical steps managers can take to help them handle these conversations better and is designed to help managers stay in control of the situation, by putting clear boundaries in place, controlling their emotions and giving them the confidence to face whatever problem comes their way.
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