Have you ever found yourself stuck in a chat that feels more like defusing a bomb than steering a ship? Yep, tough conversations erupt when you least expect it. And they take on many forms—a snarky comment here, a half-baked effort there, or that classic passive-aggressive glare.
Why do we dodge these heart-to-hearts or walk away feeling like we just chewed on a lemon?
First up, our own headspace is the culprit. We anticipate these talks to be the Mount Everest of our day. They’re going to sap our energy and time. Who’s got a spare hour to unravel what is going on, when a million fires need putting out, right? Plus, let’s be real—the thought of hashing it out when everyone’s singing a different tune seems about as fun as a root canal. Throw in personalities that clash harder than plaid and stripes, and you’ve got a recipe for “I’ll just put it in an email.” That should do it!
But, spoiler alert: that’s all in our negative mindset reminding us to watch out for what can go wrong. Hitching a ride on the train of thought that every conversation is going to be rough? Guess what, you’re laying the tracks for it to go exactly that way.
Second verse, same as the first: we’re winging it on the communication front. We learn our “hello’s” and “how are ya’s” by ear and end up parroting what we’ve seen, hoping it sticks. But if our chat road map is as good as using spaghetti to draw a straight line, we’re in for a bumpy ride. Ever been in a place where it’s all “talk, talk, talk” and no “how’s it going to actually work?” Yeah, been there.
I’ve sat across the table from leaders who can rattle off chapter and verse of what they told their team. But when I ask, “And what did they throw back at you?” Crickets. It’s like they’re recapping a solo performance of Hamlet, not a two-way street.
Now for the million-dollar question: How do we nix the ‘tough talk’ narrative?
It all starts with a little thing called curiosity. Chuck that gloomy forecast out the window and waltz in like Sherlock Holmes on a good day—keen to uncover what’s really going down.
Enter the world of Sage Conversations—it’s a three-act play: Ask. Listen. Reflect. And encore! When you get this dance down, you’re not just hearing noise; you’re in tune with a symphony of ideas and true team vibes.
Get this right, and suddenly the workplace vibe shifts. People don’t just show up—they stride in, ready to knock it out of the park and cook up greatness with their colleagues.
If you want to know how to make tough talks easier, ones in which everyone feels heard, understood and appreciated? Learn the basics that will work in every conversation in my free webinar.
