Difficult conversations at work may feel uncomfortable but they are inevitable and an essential part of supporting the people within your organisation.

As a Trickle Champion, we certainly don’t want you to fear those tougher conversations that will, from time-to-time, surface on Trickle. And so we have compiled this article to provide you with some top tips to manage difficult conversations if they do arise on your Trickle platform.

👂🏽 Actively listen

Make sure to say ‘I hear you” when you take ownership of a Trickle to show that you are listening and acknowledging the issue. Remember, you don’t have to validate an employee’s point of view to make them feel heard, instead it’s about listening with intent.

🙋‍♀️ Acknowledge different perspectives

Don’t go into a difficult Trickle conversation with a “I know best” attitude. You want to try and keep an open and flexible approach to what the issue is by asking yourself the following questions: “What is the problem? And what is the person’s view of this problem?” If you aren’t clear as to what the person’s viewpoint is, express your interest in understanding how they feel by asking them in the Trickle.

➕ Replace “but” with “and”

Using “and” instead of “but” in your responses is a powerful way to show that you value the individual's perspective on the issue raised. It demonstrates that you are open and accepting of their situation, acknowledging their reality as equally important.

🗣 Be honest and transparent

The goal of having Trickle conversations is to ensure that everyone’s voice within the organisation is heard and valued so that positive changes can be implemented wherever possible to improve the workplace experience. But there won’t always be a solution to every Trickle raised and that’s ok. If a solution isn’t clear or straightforward, transparency is key. Explaining what the barriers are and why it may not be possible to resolve the issue at that time will allow everyone to better understand any pressures or constraints within the system.

✍🏼 Plan your conversation

For particularly difficult Trickle conversations, it can help to plan what you want to say by jotting down notes and key points before you respond. You want your language to be simple, clear and neutral. You can also speak to the other Champions in your team to ask their advice too. Remember, you are not meant to have all the answers, instead you are there to ensure everyone’s voice is heard and valued, working together to reach a satisfactory conclusion wherever possible.

⚡️ Reframe your mindset

Try reframing any challenging Trickles that come up as an opportunity to have a constructive conversation to collaborate and find solutions together. Framing your Trickle discussions in a more positive light will help to bring positive energy to the conversation!

🙏 Breathe

When you feel calm and grounded, you are better able to manage more challenging conversations in the workplace. And so simply taking some slow, deep breaths before embarking on a potentially difficult Trickle conversation will help you to collect your thoughts and approach the issue from a more centred starting point.

💛 Be kind

Be considerate and compassionate – simply put, empathy goes a long way to helping resolve difficult conversations.

🤔 Reflect and learn

After a difficult Trickle conversation, it’s worthwhile to reflect with the other Champions in your team and consider what went well and what didn’t. You can also get feedback on how others may have managed similar situations to help improve your experience as a Trickle Champion.

💡 Tip: In the unlikely scenario of having to deal with unacceptable or abusive posts, Trickle provides several “safety net” features that you can use - to find out more visit our guide here.

💡 Tip: It’s a good idea to be familiar with your company’s people and wellbeing policies, and who to contact within your organisation if you need advice around difficult issues raised. The Trickle Team is also available to support you with any queries or concerns - you can contact us by starting a conversation in our Help Centre area of the app and we will get back to you within working hours as soon as we can!