“We were born with a voice box, but it didn’t come with instructions on how best to use it.” – AmyK Hutchens Communication is hard, and every single day, really smart people are either attempting or avoiding a tough conversation. But, the fact of the matter is that almost everything we want – whether it’s a salary increase, a better life, better relationships – is on the other side of a difficult conversation, and the more skilled we are to be able to prepare for these critical moments in our lives, the more we get what we desire.  In today’s episode, my guest, AmyK, focuses on teaching us how to discover what we want and what other people want so that we can create better connections and profitable outcomes. We dive deep into some magical phrases that can ease our conversations and she shares the steps we have to follow to improve the way we communicate. AmyK Hutchens is an international award-winning speaker, Amazon best-selling author, and has over 19 years of experience in training and consulting. She has clients such as The Home Depot, Starbucks Canada, Expedia, Lockheed Martin, Walmart, and just a host of others. She travels the globe sharing with executives, influencers, and go-getters how to navigate their toughest conversations, and has been a featured guest on numerous TV and radio networks, including Bloomberg, NBC, Fox, and ABC. She comes from a family of teachers and educators and literally, when she was five years old she was playing school with her imaginary students. You can imagine how skilled she is at teaching people, so listen to Episode 231 of Becoming Your Best to learn how to honor your voice, one conversation at a time, to get what you want and create a profitable life.  Questions I ask:  Tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that have had a significant impact on you, and how did you get to where you're at today? (02:12) What’s your recommendation for people to know what they really want? (07:44) How important is it that people know what the other person wants? (09:57) What are some of the magical phrases that effectively break down walls and create new possibilities? (11:09) How do you prepare for your most important conversations, to ensure really great outcomes? (18:44) How can people honor the worth of their own voice? (20:19) In this episode, you will learn:  What inspired AmyK to write the book “Get it!” & what the book is about. (03:56) Improving your emotional literacy allows you to better connect with other people and with yourself. (08:43) How the phrase “A Part of Me” gives you a space for dialogue versus getting defensive and armoring up. (11:59) How the phrase “How Might We” leads to more engagement and more inclusivity. (13:13) Using the magical phrase, “I have this story in my head” can lead to a better conversation. (14:42) The phrase “Help me understand what’s the thought behind” is a great way to practice empathy. (16:20) AmyK’s most important advice when it comes to dealing with tough conversations. (23:05) Connect with AmyK: Website Instagram LinkedIn Book – Get It: Five Steps to the Sex, Salary and Success You Want Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com   Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.