What if your colleagues discriminated against you, just for being assertive? Unfortunately, gender bias is a reality in today’s workplace. This study reveals women’s perceived competency drops by 35 percent and their perceived worth by $15,088 when they are equally as assertive or forceful …

QUESTION Dear Brittney, My manager recently told me that another leader said this about me: “her nationality shows by her bluntness in meetings.” I was told this as feedback but wasn’t given any specific examples. While I am open to constructive feedback and want to improve, I’m very …

QUESTION Dear Kerry, I’d like some help on receiving criticism. My problem is that there is one executive in my organization who finds fault with my work and I find myself immediately on the defensive. I am intimidated by her confrontational style. I do not report to her, but she has taken …

QUESTION Dear Justin, How do you ask someone “What is your problem with me?” without prompting a blowup or defensive behavior? Signed, Suspicious Author: Justin Hale Master Trainer @ Crucial Learning ANSWER …

QUESTION Dear Ryan, My puppy was brutally attacked by our neighbor’s pit bull. My pup survived, but I soon learned from other neighbors that this was the fifth attack in the neighborhood by this pit bull. I decided to press charges in hopes of improving neighborhood safety. This did not make …

QUESTION Dear Jospeh, I work in the agricultural industry as a sales rep. Sometimes I must go out to a customer when a product has not met their expectations. I just started reading Crucial Conversations, and I also have Crucial Confrontations. Any areas I should focus on to better handle these…

QUESTION Dear Jospeh, How do you start over with a colleague who does not like you, does not want to talk with you or work with you, and has gone out of their way to try to make you look bad on several occasions? I stopped speaking to this person six months ago, but I’d like to try to rebuild…

QUESTION Dear Brittney, What is the root cause for people to choose silence rather than to verbalize what they want or need from others? Why would they avoid having a Crucial Conversation at the expense of what they need? Signed, Wondering Author: Brittney Maxfield…