Overview

You do not need more confidence. You need a structure. If you rehearse hard conversations for days, soften your point until it disappears, or wait so long that frustration does the talking for you - this book is for you. In Hard Talk at Work, Mira Talcott gives you the exact language and the five-step framework for saying the hard thing while it's still small enough to fix in one short conversation. YOU'LL LEARN HOW TO: Give feedback without triggering instant defensiveness Set boundaries without sounding cold or guilty Handle coworker friction before it turns into a private case file Speak to a difficult boss in language they can actually hear Write hard emails and Slack messages that clarify instead of escalate Recover when a conversation goes badly - and know when to stop pushing WHY MOST COMMUNICATION BOOKS DON'T HELP Most books in this category tell you to be direct, be assertive, be brave. Fine advice - but none of it helps when your pulse is up and you're trying to decide whether to open with ""I want to talk about yesterday"" or ""Hey, this is probably nothing, but..."" You don't have a courage problem. You have a language problem. This book gives you the exact scripts. You'll see the soft, rambling version most of us default to - followed by the clean version that actually works. Five-step framework, mapped across feedback, boundaries, peer conflict, upward conversations, written messages, and recovery when a conversation goes sideways. WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR Thoughtful, conflict-avoidant professionals who are good at their jobs, tired of swallowing what needs to be said, and not interested in becoming louder versions of themselves just to be heard. If you've ever drafted the same Slack message three times and deleted it, held a workload conversation in your head for months before finally saying something badly, or watched a small issue grow into a private case file that eventually came out all at once - this book is written for you specifically. WHAT'S INSIDE Eleven chapters, plus an introduction and conclusion. Over 200 pages of practical scripts, side-by-side examples, and direct coaching. No motivational padding. No theoretical detours. Just the exact moves and the exact language. Includes a quick-reference card for difficult reactions (denial, anger, shutdown, fake agreement), a seven-day plan for the first conversation you'll have after finishing the book, and a framework you can lean on when your pulse is up and the words won't come. Because the goal is not to become fearless. The goal is to say the hard thing sooner.

Full Product Details

9798258079657

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Tab Content 6

Countries Available