Hosts

Renee Chiuchiarelli- LinkedIn

Julie Parks - LinkedIn

Published Date

December 9, 2025

Episode Length

~7 minutes

Episode Summary

The Pitcher’s Playbook for Difficult Conversations

In this second episode of the Difficult Conversations series, Renee and Julie break down how to navigate tough discussions when you are the one initiating them — the Pitcher role.

To make the process easier, they introduce a simple, repeatable acronym that works for any difficult conversation:

Greeting: Open with appreciation and set a positive tone

Groundwork: Provide context and explain why the conversation is needed

Concern: State the issue clearly, respectfully, and with the “why” behind it

Closing: Finish with a statement and a question to confirm alignment

This framework helps you stay organized, calm, and effective, no matter how uncomfortable the topic may be.

Key Learnings

Structure makes difficult conversations less stressful and more productive.

Appreciation (Greeting) and partnership (Groundwork) reduce defensiveness.

Clear, respectful articulation of your concern keeps the conversation constructive.

Ending with a clarifying question ensures you and the other person walk away aligned.

Writing out the GGCC ahead of time makes a big difference in how you show up.

GGCC will be used again in Episode 3, this time from the Catcher’s perspective.

Takeaways

Difficult conversations aren’t confrontations — they’re opportunities to collaborate.

“Respect” and “clarity” are the two qualities that make the GGCC method work.

Preparing your structure ahead of time prevents misunderstandings.

Tip of the Week

Use the GGCC framework (Greeting, Groundwork, Concern, Closing) to prepare your next difficult conversation.

FIO – Figure It Out (Call to Action)

This week, identify one difficult conversation you’ve been putting off.

Even if you don’t deliver it right away, having it ready makes you more confident and prepared.

Share your experience inside the Trade Geeks Community:

Resources Mentioned

This episode focuses solely on the GGCC structure — no external resources.

Hosts:

Renee Chiuchiarelli

Julie Parks

Producer:

Lalo Solorzano

🎙️ Simply Trade is a podcast by Global Training Center, bringing practical insights to trade and customs professionals worldwide.

🎙️ New TIPS episodes every Tuesday.

Presented by: Global Training Center — providing education, consulting, workshops, and compliance resources for trade professionals.

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