Dear Crucial Skills, I recently had an encounter with an aggressive and abusive flight attendant that required me to use all my Crucial Conversations skills. I feel satisfied that I successfully carried out most of the teachings I have learned through your articles—meaning I did not get escorted off the plane. During the encounter, I …
Dear Crucial Skills, At work, a small group of “good old boys” (friends for over twenty years) is in charge. One got the position because of the other. They “invented” a full-time position for another friend that they just hired. She now has more authority and higher pay (including bonuses and overtime) than many of …
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ron McMillan is coauthor of four New York Times bestsellers, Change Anything, Crucial Conversations, Crucial Confrontations, and Influencer. READ MORE Dear Crucial Skills, I believe my boss has some bad news to deliver to me. How can I set the tone so that it is easier for her to give me the …
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ron McMillan is coauthor of four bestselling books, Change Anything, Crucial Conversations, Crucial Confrontations, and Influencer. READ MORE The following article was first published on June 1, 2005. Dear Crucial Skills, What if you are not dealing with a reasonable, rational, and decent person? Is this possible or do you genuinely believe …
Dear Authors, My wife retired early and I intend to retire next year. We currently live in Tucson, and have agreed on the following: We don’t wish to continue living in Tucson year round. If we live in Tucson only part of the year we can’t afford to keep the home we have lived in …
Dear Crucial Skills, I am a middle-aged, part-time worker by choice and work very hard while I am here. I have a great attendance record, and I’m dedicated, very meticulous, and take initiative without drawing attention to myself. I try to do everything I can to make my coworkers’ jobs easier. Per my supervisor and …
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ron McMillan is coauthor of four New York Times bestsellers, Change Anything, Crucial Conversations, Crucial Confrontations, and Influencer. READ MORE Dear Authors, I have recently been informed by my boss that the president of my company intends to cut my salary by 30 percent at the beginning of the year. This is …
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ron McMillan is coauthor of four New York Times bestsellers, Change Anything, Crucial Conversations, Crucial Confrontations, and Influencer. READ MORE Dear Authors, How do I handle a constant complainer? I have an employee who has worked for the company for thirty years. She’s a great employee but is always complaining—mainly about all …
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ron McMillan is coauthor of four bestselling books, Change Anything, Crucial Conversations, Crucial Confrontations, and Influencer. READ MORE The following article was first published on July 14, 2004. Dear Crucial Skills, What do you do when you don’t know for sure what the problem is? All you know is that there is …
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ron McMillan is coauthor of four New York Times bestsellers, Change Anything, Crucial Conversations, Crucial Confrontations, and Influencer. READ MORE Dear Authors, I am a Sales Engineer supporting six sales people. We have one individual who has been here for six months. He does not know his products and wants me to …
