Difficult Conversations at Work: Go from “Nightmare” to “No Problem”

As a former lawyer, Diane A. Ross thought she was a difficult conversations expert… so why was she still struggling through those dreaded “tough talks” with her coworkers and colleagues?

So began her revelation: the communication skills that knocked ’em dead at the negotiating table were actually destructive to her workplace relationships. Conflicts went unresolved, productivity was stifled, and communication suffered – big time.

Sound familiar?

“The Elephant in the Office: Super-Simple Strategies for Difficult Conversations at Work” is the answer for anyone who has ever wrestled with managing difficult conversations in the workplace. It’s full of real-life, easy-to-implement strategies that have stood the test of time.

Diane A. Ross’ breezy writing style and upbeat sense of humor make this book a fun and informative read that promises to help you create real and lasting change in the workplace (so if you’re looking for a dry, bore-me-to-tears-yawn-fest academic-style textbook, please look elsewhere!).

Learn to:

-Talk so that you are heard
-Overcome the “difficult conversation jitters”
-Disarm hostile coworkers – and even your boss
-Boost communication within your team
-Get what you want at work

Handling Difficult Conversations Is About to Get a Whole Lot Less Scary/Stressful/Panic-Attack-Inducing

If you have ever struggled with a coworker who wasn’t pulling their weight or gotten butterflies asking for time off, this book is for you. If you have ever been faced with an unmotivated employee or a team leader who takes credit for your work, this book is for you.

Whether you’re dealing with a cubicle-mate with B.O., an employee stealing office supplies, a whole department getting laid off, or a team-member who always flies off the handle, “The Elephant in the Office” is going to get your difficult conversations moving in the right direction. Each chapter is full-to-overflowing with simple step-by-step tips backed by real-life examples, so you can see these strategies in action.

Who Should Buy This Book?

If you have ever had to cope with:

-Anxiety asking for a raise or vacation time
-Stress over having to fire someone or discuss employee performance
-An overbearing boss
-A coworker not pulling his or her weight
-A smelly, dirty, crude, rude (or otherwise icky) team-member
-Passive-aggressive, antagonistic, or just plain difficult coworkers or employees

…then you need this book!

“The Elephant in the Office” is ideal for individuals hoping to achieve more in the workplace as well as executive teams and HR managers who want the very best from their employees.

Handling difficult conversations is about to become a heck of a lot less painful, my friends! You’re one good read away from better workplace dynamics, increased productivity, less stress, and more of what you want – out of work and out of life.

“A practical approach to difficult conversations in the workplace, with lots of real-life examples to keep the reader investing their time and – can you believe it? – it’s actually fun to read.” – Yvonne Mann, President, LeaderShifts

“Helpful, concrete examples written in practical lay terms. This book will help anyone who chooses to read it.” – Chris Dragseth, Director (retired), Service Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development

Diane A. Ross draws on her experience as a busy lawyer, professional speaker, over-committed mother, and executive coach to teach others her time-tested and easy-to-implement strategies for handling difficult conversations at work and at home. Diane became involved in difficult conversation techniques when she noticed that the negotiating skills she had mastered in the courtroom – a.k.a the “I’m right and you’re wrong” method – weren’t working for the difficult conversations she encountered in everyday life. So began the long journey filled with Harvard training, exhaustive research, and lots of trial and error (with friends, family, and coworkers as unwitting guinea pigs). The results in Diane’s own life were astounding: her work relationships improved, her family life became more harmonious, and communication became easier and more productive. Diane was so grateful to be effectively managing difficult conversations that she was anxious to share her strategies with the rest of the world so they could achieve similar results in their own lives. The concept for her first difficult conversations book, “The Elephant in the Office: Super-Simple Strategies for Difficult Conversations at Work,” was born. The book, available in print and digital versions, is the first in the Elephant Conversations(tm) Ltd. series. As an author, Diane A. Ross is witty and straightforward. She uses real-life examples, including many from her own life, to explain the process of having difficult conversations with as little anxiety and as much success as possible. Her accessible, no B.S. style and humorous approach are hallmarks of the Elephant Conversations(tm) brand. Hers are not boring textbooks, but fun, easy reads filled with practical strategies and simple solutions to the most common difficult conversation hurdles. When Diane isn’t penning her next book, she is leading difficult conversation seminars to help others achieve the success she enjoys in her own life. She is also a busy wife and mom of two who lives with her family on beautiful Vancouver Island, Canada.