Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

What Makes a Conversation Difficult?: Investigating the Role of Content and Interpersonal Relationships in Managerial Conversations

Varga, Lili Agnes LU and Wirgin, Rebecca LU (2021) MGTN59 20211
Department of Business Administration
Abstract
Dealing with difficult conversations is recognised as being one of the most challenging aspects of the managerial role. Scholarly research within this field is primarily normative in its nature where difficult conversations are still poorly understood from managers’ point of view. This thesis aimed to explore and analyse how middle managers perceive difficult one-on-one conversations in terms of their content and the interpersonal relationship between them and their employees. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten Swedish middle managers who come from various backgrounds and represent a variety of job roles, sectors, industries, genders and work experiences. Thematic analysis was utilised to investigate recurring themes in... (More)
Dealing with difficult conversations is recognised as being one of the most challenging aspects of the managerial role. Scholarly research within this field is primarily normative in its nature where difficult conversations are still poorly understood from managers’ point of view. This thesis aimed to explore and analyse how middle managers perceive difficult one-on-one conversations in terms of their content and the interpersonal relationship between them and their employees. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten Swedish middle managers who come from various backgrounds and represent a variety of job roles, sectors, industries, genders and work experiences. Thematic analysis was utilised to investigate recurring themes in their answers.

The results indicate that it is not only the content and the interpersonal relationships that can make a conversation be viewed as difficult but also various other factors along with the interplay between them. In regards to the content of the conversations, it was found that content is not the most influential factor regarding how managers perceive difficult conversations. In essence, it is other factors involved with the content that decide how challenging people regard it. In addition, the study found that interpersonal relationships play a bigger role than the content. The managers expressed that having a balance between formal and close relationships is the most preferable when engaging in challenging conversations with an employee. Lastly, it needs to be acknowledged that difficult conversations are a complex phenomenon and how one perceives them is highly subjective. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Varga, Lili Agnes LU and Wirgin, Rebecca LU
supervisor
organization
course
MGTN59 20211
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
difficult conversations, management, content, interpersonal relationships, middle managers
language
English
id
9061741
date added to LUP
2021-07-20 12:54:07
date last changed
2021-07-20 12:54:07
@misc{9061741,
  abstract     = {{Dealing with difficult conversations is recognised as being one of the most challenging aspects of the managerial role. Scholarly research within this field is primarily normative in its nature where difficult conversations are still poorly understood from managers’ point of view. This thesis aimed to explore and analyse how middle managers perceive difficult one-on-one conversations in terms of their content and the interpersonal relationship between them and their employees. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten Swedish middle managers who come from various backgrounds and represent a variety of job roles, sectors, industries, genders and work experiences. Thematic analysis was utilised to investigate recurring themes in their answers.

The results indicate that it is not only the content and the interpersonal relationships that can make a conversation be viewed as difficult but also various other factors along with the interplay between them. In regards to the content of the conversations, it was found that content is not the most influential factor regarding how managers perceive difficult conversations. In essence, it is other factors involved with the content that decide how challenging people regard it. In addition, the study found that interpersonal relationships play a bigger role than the content. The managers expressed that having a balance between formal and close relationships is the most preferable when engaging in challenging conversations with an employee. Lastly, it needs to be acknowledged that difficult conversations are a complex phenomenon and how one perceives them is highly subjective.}},
  author       = {{Varga, Lili Agnes and Wirgin, Rebecca}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{What Makes a Conversation Difficult?: Investigating the Role of Content and Interpersonal Relationships in Managerial Conversations}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}