Do you find yourself randomly classifying products… when you are not at work?
Does the reason why you jump out of bed every morning have anything to do with validating your supply chain to insure trade compliance?
Did you sit in your favorite chair with a glass of wine, paging through the latest regulations and thought to yourself, ‘what a great way to spend my free time’?
If any of these apply to you, then you are very likely a ‘trade geek’… that is why we created Simply Trade just for you.
Your hosts, Andy and Lalo have a combined 60+ years in the industry. Covering everything from logistics to technology. There is so much to learn with the ever-evolving world of trade.
We’ve invited some friends over to our podcast to simply ’shoot the ship’ on all things trade. So join us every week as we discuss current and important trade topics with experts in their field who are passionate about helping you succeed!
You’ll never run out of things to learn when it comes to trading goods across international borders.
Let’s get to it!
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with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Do you find yourself randomly classifying products… when you are not at work?
Does the reason why you jump out of bed every morning have anything to do with validating your supply chain to insure trade compliance?
Did you sit in your favorite chair with a glass of wine, paging through the latest regulations and thought to yourself, ‘what a great way to spend my free time’?
If any of these apply to you, then you are very likely a ‘trade geek’… that is why we created Simply Trade just for you.
Your hosts, Andy and Lalo have a combined 60+ years in the industry. Covering everything from logistics to technology. There is so much to learn with the ever-evolving world of trade.
We’ve invited some friends over to our podcast to simply ’shoot the ship’ on all things trade. So join us every week as we discuss current and important trade topics with experts in their field who are passionate about helping you succeed!
You’ll never run out of things to learn when it comes to trading goods across international borders.
Let’s get to it!
[TIPS] GGCC: A Simple Framework for Starting Tough Conversations (The “Pitcher” Role)
Simply Trade
7 minutes
1 month ago
[TIPS] GGCC: A Simple Framework for Starting Tough Conversations (The “Pitcher” Role)
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:
GGCC
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.It works for feedback, resource requests, conflict, and team challenges.
FIO – Figure It Out (Call to Action)
This week, identify one difficult conversation you’ve been putting off.Draft your Pitcher’s script using the GGCC structure.
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:Trade Geeks
Resources Mentioned
This episode focuses solely on the GGCC structure — no external resources.
Credits
Hosts: Renee Chiuchiarelli & Julie ParksProducer: Lalo Solorzano
Subscribe & Follow
Global Training Center – Website
Simply Trade Podcast – LinkedIn
YouTube – Simply Trade Channel
Spotify – Listen on Spotify
Apple Podcasts – Listen on Apple
Trade Geeks Community – Join Here
Simply Trade
Do you find yourself randomly classifying products… when you are not at work?
Does the reason why you jump out of bed every morning have anything to do with validating your supply chain to insure trade compliance?
Did you sit in your favorite chair with a glass of wine, paging through the latest regulations and thought to yourself, ‘what a great way to spend my free time’?
If any of these apply to you, then you are very likely a ‘trade geek’… that is why we created Simply Trade just for you.
Your hosts, Andy and Lalo have a combined 60+ years in the industry. Covering everything from logistics to technology. There is so much to learn with the ever-evolving world of trade.
We’ve invited some friends over to our podcast to simply ’shoot the ship’ on all things trade. So join us every week as we discuss current and important trade topics with experts in their field who are passionate about helping you succeed!
You’ll never run out of things to learn when it comes to trading goods across international borders.
Let’s get to it!
