Frameworks to Support Difficult Conversations at Work

When difficult conversations arise in the workplace, such as balancing empathy for an employee’s mental health challenges with their performance at work, it can be hard to know how to approach them in a way that is respectful, clear, and effective.  

In a recent episode of our Clear the Air podcast, Clearhead Clinical Lead Barry Kirker spoke about two practical frameworks, DEAR and the 7 C’s, that give leaders and managers a simple structure to lean on. These tools make it easier to communicate expectations, maintain professionalism, and support employees while still addressing important issues. 

The DEAR framework comes from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), developed by psychologist Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s. DBT was originally designed to help people manage intense emotions and build healthier relationships. This framework has also proven effective for difficult conversations you may have in the workplace.  

These 7 C’s were developed by Barry as guiding principles to ensure your message is delivered effectively, respectfully, and with consistency. 

By using these frameworks, conversations that might otherwise feel daunting become more constructive and purposeful. The DEAR framework provides a step-by-step way to express concerns and set boundaries, while the 7 C’s serve as guiding principles for how to deliver the message. If you would like to learn more, you can listen to the full conversation on our Clear the Air podcast. 

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Linehan, M. M. (1993). Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder. New York: Guilford Press.