Recall a recent business conversation you participated in that did not result in your intended outcome. This may be a conversation you had with a peer, a conversation at a store team meeting, or a conversation with your supervisor, a customer, or a vendor.

1. Explain how you did, or did not, complete stages of an effective conversation.
2. Identify the point where the conversation broke down and caused your intended outcome to not be achieved. What could have been done differently? How will you avoid future situations and prepare for difficult conversations?
3. Explain why preparing for difficult conversations leads to more effective outcomes.