Have you been putting off an important-but-difficult conversation? Perhaps you just can’t bring yourself to share some negative feedback with a peer. Or maybe you are hesitant to admit to something you did wrong. Either way, your dread is probably growing over time as you imagine worse and worse scenarios for how the conversation will play out. Carrying an issue without resolution is like carrying debt. You’ll eventually have to pay the principal (by having the difficult conversation), but the longer you wait, the more interest you’ll pay in anxiety and dread.
A Game Plan for That Conversation You’ve Been Putting Off
Postponing only makes it worse.
April 12, 2017
Summary.
Have you been putting off an important, but difficult conversation? Perhaps you just can’t bring yourself to share some negative feedback with a peer. Or maybe you are hesitant to admit to something you did wrong. Either way, your dread is probably growing over time as you imagine more and more extreme scenarios for how the conversation will play out. Carrying an issue without resolution is like carrying debt. You’ll eventually have to pay the principle (i.e., have the difficult conversation) but the longer you wait, the more interest you’ll pay in anxiety and dread. Postponing a difficult conversation only makes it worse. Get your head around what you need to say, be deliberate about when and where to have the conversation, and then keep calm and carry on. You’ll feel better once it’s over.