One of the most challenging aspects of management is navigating difficult conversations. Keith Fullenweider, the chair of Vinson & Elkins LLP, said on the latest Drinks With The Deal podcast that he tries to clarify the conflict or difference of opinion at issue.

“A lot of times you can kind of narrow the difference of opinion if you listen really well,” he said. “In my younger days, I would tend to look for a compromise between two conflicting perspectives. I came to conclude that that’s not usually the best path. It leaves both parties unsatisfied.” Instead, he aims for both parties to feel that they’re being heard.

Fullenweider said his approach to such situations is also influenced by his Catholic faith.

“Practicing your faith should help you learn to approach difficult conversations with people where you respect the freedom and the humanity of each individual in that conversation and don’t just see them as a speed bump along the way to getting a problem solved but as an individual whose freedom needs to be respected,” he said.

He also discussed the influence his father, a divorce lawyer in Houston, had on his career, as well as how he built a private equity practice after a stint in-house at Dynegy Inc. in the early 2000s and what he looks for in potential lateral hires.

Listen to the podcast with Keith Fullenweider below:

More podcasts from The Deal are available on iTunes, Spotify and on TheDeal.com.