profile

Jefferson Fisher

Simple, practical communication advice for your next conversation.

Featured Post

disagree with them on *every* level?

Hey Reader, Someone brings up that topic. You know the one. And the room gets tense. Your blood pressure spikes. And you're thinking, How can they possibly believe that? Here's the truth: You don't have to agree with them. Ever. But you can have a conversation without it turning into a five-year estrangement. In this week's episode, I'm sharing 3 strategies for talking to someone you completely disagree with—without losing your mind or your relationship. Here's what you'll learn this week:...

Hey Reader, Ever been in a conversation where you can't get a word in? You have something important to say, but the other person keeps talking over you. It’s frustrating, right? Most people try to fight for the floor, but that only creates tension. Here's a better way to handle it: #1. Use their name to transition. When someone's on a roll, interrupting with "But..." or "Actually..." triggers defensiveness. They double down because it sounds like opposition. But, using their name works...

Hey Reader, Someone called me out yesterday: "Why do I need a workbook? Just tell me what to say." Honestly, it's a fair question. Here's why I wrote The Next Conversation Workbook: Knowing communication tips is one thing. But using the right words when you're in the conversation? That's different. I can tell you the three Cs—Control, Confidence, Connect—over and over. And you can know them in your mind. But when you're face-to-face with someone and the conversation is going sideways… That's...

Hey Reader, You ever walk into a conversation and feel yourself putting on a polished version of you? You’re agreeable. You’re measured. You’re choosing what “sounds nice” instead of what’s actually true. And the whole time you’re thinking... I just want this to feel real. That’s exactly why I created these two resources for you: #1. The Next Conversation Workbook You’ve asked for it and it’s finally here. My new workbook is officially available for preorder. This is the resource I wish I'd...

Hey Reader, You know how sometimes you hear advice and think... “How do I hang on to this for when I really need it?” That's exactly why I created The Next Conversation Workbook. It’s the official companion to my book. I made this for real life—mark it up, dog-ear the pages, take notes. This thing is meant to work hard for you. And, tomorrow, it officially opens for preorder. But you're hearing about it a day early because you're part of my community. Preorder Your Copy Here's what you get...

Hey Reader, You’re in a heated conversation. Your pulse picks up. You’re ready to defend your point — to prove you are right. But here’s the truth: The moment you focus on yourself, you lose your ability to influence. So how do you turn that around? Here are 3 ways to shift any argument from conflict to influence. #1. Flip the focus. Most people go into arguments thinking: “I have to make them see I’m right.” That mindset triggers defensiveness — yours and theirs. Instead, ask yourself these...

Thanks to Momentous for bringing this to your inbox. Hey Reader, You’ve been told “no.” Maybe once. Maybe a hundred times. And somewhere along the way, you started to believe those no’s meant you weren’t enough. This week on the podcast, I sit down with my friend Jamie Kern Lima—founder of IT Cosmetics and the first female CEO in L’Oréal’s 100-year history—to talk about how she turned rejection into fuel. Jamie went from waitressing at Denny’s to building a billion-dollar company. But the...

Hey Reader, We’ve all been there — that moment before a tough conversation when your heart’s pounding and you’re thinking, “How do I even start this?” Here’s the truth: Most difficult conversations don’t go badly because of what we say. They go badly because of how we start and end them. Let’s fix that. Here's exactly how to have a difficult conversation: #1. Skip the intro. Don’t open with, “How are you?” Difficult conversations aren’t the time for small talk. It feels polite, but it...

Thanks to Our Place for helping bring this to your inbox. Hey Reader, You feel the power slipping in a conversation. Your voice speeds up.You explain more.They push harder. Here’s a better move: don’t grab for control—reset the conversation so it returns to you. In this week’s podcast episode, I’m teaching the exact tools I use with legal clients to shift momentum back to you—calmly, clearly, and fast. SPONSOR*You know I’m big on simple, clear steps—same in the kitchen. Our Place makes our...

Hey Reader, October was all about finding your backbone without losing your composure. Here are the three posts that resonated most with the community this month. Whether you missed them or just want a quick recap, here's what got people talking: #1. Being Nice Won't Save You in Difficult Conversations Think being agreeable will get people to treat you better? Here's the truth: it won't. Being nice in conflict often gets you steamrolled, not respected. There's a big difference between being...