Question 1

What are the key takeaways from Alisa Cohn's episode on Lenny's Podcast?

Accepted Answer

1. Difficult conversations often lead to breakthrough results - through discomfort comes new possibilities, joy, and freedom, and withholding feedback robs people of opportunities to improve. 2. Ground feedback in observable facts, not judgments - describing specific behaviors and outcomes against clear expectations makes feedback neutral, easier to deliver, and easier to receive. 3. Your job as a leader is not to make employees happy, but to create a winning culture - happiness comes from clarity on roles, impact, structure for success, and celebrating wins together. 4. Always provide hope for the future when delivering difficult news - remember there's a human being who needs to know they have an ally in you even when things aren't going their way. 5. End every meeting with three questions: What did we decide? Who does what by when? Who else needs to know? - This simple ritual prevents re-deciding issues and ensures accountability.

Question 2

What does Alisa Cohn say about difficult-conversations and feedback?

Accepted Answer

"No one wants to make anybody upset, but through that upset on the other side of that, can often be a whole new possibility and a whole new revelation, and actually a lot of joy and freedom. I think that we forget about all the other possibilities that come out of difficult conversations and we just land on these really uncomfortable parts." - Alisa Cohn "She cried. Of course she did. She cried. That's what he knew she was going to do. And so she was upset and she went home early and the whole thing. The next day she came in and she said, 'Thank you so much for telling me that. I wish someone had told me that 15 years ago. I think I could have had a different career.'" - Alisa Cohn "What I'm trying to convey in my tone is also, 'You know what? It's Tuesday. We got to have this conversation. I'm sure it's going to end well. I'm not mad.' The more even keeled and even matter of fact you can be about something that's kind of just run-of-the-mill feedback, the better." - Alisa Cohn

Question 3

What are Alisa Cohn's views on difficult-conversations, feedback, management?

Accepted Answer

Alisa Cohn: "No one wants to make anybody upset, but through that upset on the other side of that, can often be a whole new possibility and a whole new revelation, and actually a lot of joy and freedom. I think that we forget about all the other possibilities that come out of difficult conversations and we just land on these really uncomfortable parts." Alisa Cohn: "She cried. Of course she did. She cried. That's what he knew she was going to do. And so she was upset and she went home early and the whole thing. The next day she came in and she said, 'Thank you so much for telling me that. I wish someone had told me that 15 years ago. I think I could have had a different career.'"

Alisa Cohn

Scripts for navigating difficult conversations | Alisa Cohn (executive coach)

TRANSCRIPT

Alisa Cohn

Scripts for navigating difficult conversations | Alisa Cohn (executive coach)

Alisa Cohn

Scripts for navigating difficult conversations | Alisa Cohn (executive coach)

TRANSCRIPT

Alisa Cohn

Scripts for navigating difficult conversations | Alisa Cohn (executive coach)