A difficult conversation can lead to the best things in life.

In a sense, all conversations are difficult - they require a variety of skills that nobody teaches us.

As we advance in our careers, it becomes even more complicated: We interact more with people from all over the world, with different backgrounds, cultures and perspectives.

How can we improve our performance in these conversations?

Today I’ve invited Reuven Ben Shalom, a cross-cultural strategist and consultant, to help us get better at communicating in an international environment.

Reuven trains senior leaders in cross-cultural communication at the IDF School of Military Diplomacy and at the Israel National Defense College.

In our conversation, we discussed how to interact more professionally in a global setting, make open communication easier, and communicate more effectively overall.