Jon Gordon & Amy P. Kelly 
Difficult Conversations Don’t Have to Be Difficult 
A Simple, Smart Way to Make Your Relationships and Team Better

Help your team maximize their full potential by mastering tough conversations

In Difficult Conversations Don’t Have to be Difficult: A Simple, Smart Way to Make Your Relationships and Team Better, bestselling author Jon Gordon and veteran human resources professional and executive coach Amy P. Kelly deliver an engaging and inspiring new take on how to make tough workplace conversations an asset in building a stronger team and organization.

The book, written as a business fable, follows Ruth, the CEO of a successful multinational company who has been instructed by her board to prepare her company for sale. Along the way, she must lead an underperforming and dysfunctional team to set aside their differences and work together toward a common goal. This includes growing herself while elevating her team’s performance. As Ruth discovers the secret to unlocking extraordinary growth and productivity, you’ll learn about:

* The critically important conversations you need to have with your team to realize outstanding results

* Structuring, planning, and having the tough conversations your team members really need

* Ensuring your team walks away from difficult conversations more united, motivated, inspired, and positioned for optimal growth and performance

Perfect for managers, executives, directors, and business leaders and their teams, Difficult Conversations Don’t Have to be Difficult is also a must-read for coaches, trainers, teachers, consultants, and other professionals doing their best to help others realize their full potential. Teams who read the book together will be equipped with a proven strategy and process to enhance communication performance and unity.

Table of Content

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction xi

1 Turmoil 1

2 Transparency 11

3 Truth 17

4 Tiles of Talent: Embracing Hybrid Team Trust 31

5 Trust 47

6 Time to Transform 69

7 Team 73

8 Application of the STAR 3 Model 81

Difficult Conversations Don’t Have to be Difficult Resources 87

About the Authors 89

Other Books by Jon Gordon 91

About the author

JON GORDON is a 15-time bestselling author, thought leader, and one of the most sought after leadership speakers and consultants who has worked with many of the best leaders and organizations on the planet. He believes that positivity is a competitive advantage and is the author of 30 books, including The Energy Bus, The Carpenter, The Power of Positive Leadership and The Power of a Positive Team.

Visit him at Jon Gordon.com

AMY P. KELLY is the Vice President of Consulting for The Jon Gordon Companies and a Global Facilitator for The Association for Talent Development in the areas of Change Management, Improving Human Performance, and Consulting Skills. She is co-author of The Energy Bus Field Guide and the author of G.L.U.E.: A Leadership Development Strategy to Bond and Unite. In her career as a human resources executive, Amy built award-winning employment brands and corporate university programs. She is dedicated to helping executives and their teams grow.