here is the book I am currently reading:

I am learning how to have crucial conversations. To tell people that they are not meeting the expectations of their job, to suggest that they pluck their eyebrows to look more professional, to communicate with people in my life and tell them what I expect, want or need from them. To learn how to more effectively communicate when "stakes are high, opinions vary and emotions run strong."

People who handle crucial conversations well are people that I respect. This doesn't mean being able to share your opinion, or get your point across in any situation, but handle a difficult situation well, that leaves the other parties also feeling understood and respected. I'm not gonna lie, as soon as my boss recommended this book to me (literally, within 5 minutes) I had it in my hands. I bought a copy for another store manager too. I certainly respect him, and he does well with critical conversations. Every time I come away from a conversation with him that I was afraid was going to be difficult, I feel respected, appreciated, and understood, even if the outcome isn't what I desired. THAT is my goal.

I also had some realizations. I know I'm the queen of living the "if I ignore it, it will go away" mentality. I always have been. but I am slowly learning that it is the worst way to handle most situations...luckily, nothing of it has ruined my life or relationships...yet. But I intend to keep it that way.

Being a business leader is hard.

We also worked on our personal development plans. This is something I love about my company. We make a plan each year to develop some aspect of ourselves-business or personal, and are accountable to it in our work environment.

This year I am working on my communication skills, and that's where this book comes in to play. I also plan to have 15 minute conversations with each of my assistant managers each week where I give them effective/more effective feedback (you are very effective in this way, you can be more effective in this way) and set clear expectations for the upcoming week and follow up the ones set the week before, and where I also ask them how I could have been a better support to them in the last week, and what they need from me in the upcoming week.

I really hope this helps with some of the communication issues we've faced in the past few months...shadow of a leader. If I'm not an effective communicator, how can I ever hope that they will be? and I don't want to hold them back at all. I want to be an enabler in their careers.