That Conversation You’ve Been Dodging….
That Conversation You’ve Been Dodging: How to Have It Before It — and You — Blow Up
You know the one.
The performance issue that’s getting worse.
The boundary that keeps getting crossed.
The team dynamic that’s slowly poisoning morale.
It’s the conversation that sits in the back of your mind all day, steals your sleep at night, and has you hoping that maybe — maybe — it will just fix itself.
It won’t.
Why Waiting Backfires
When you put off a difficult conversation, three things happen:
The problem grows. Small slips turn into habits, and other people start to notice.
Your frustration builds. Every new incident feels like another match on the fire.
Your leadership takes a hit. People notice when you avoid problems — and they start to wonder what else you’ll let slide.
And then comes the breaking point — when you finally snap, say too much, or say it badly. That’s when it blows up… and not just for them. For you, too.
A Real-World Example
One leader I worked with had a team member who was constantly on their phone. She avoided saying anything because “it’s just a small thing” and “everyone checks their phone.”
Three months later, other team members started doing the same, deadlines slipped, and resentment bubbled up.
When she finally addressed it, the conversation went sideways. The employee got defensive, other team members felt singled out, and the situation escalated to HR.
If she’d had the right framework to start that conversation calmly the first time she noticed it, she could have set a clear boundary, avoided conflict, and kept her team’s respect intact.
What You Need Instead
You need a way to:
Stop avoiding the conversation without getting stuck in overthinking
Start it calmly and clearly, without inflaming things
Stay steady if they push back
That’s exactly what I teach in the Leading Difficult Conversations Workshop Series starting August 26.
Over three live, interactive sessions, you’ll learn how to:
Break the avoidance cycle and start with confidence
Lead high-stakes conversations when trust is on the line
Handle resistance without escalating or backing down
You’ll leave with scripts, frameworks, and the confidence to lead any difficult conversation — the kind you’ve been dodging for weeks or months.
Bonus When You Register
When you join, you’ll immediately get my C.S.H. Method™ Quick Reference Tool — a 3-step emergency framework for tackling urgent conversations that can’t wait until after the workshop. It’s perfect for those “I have to deal with this today” moments.
Stop Dodging. Start Leading.
You already know which conversation you’ve been avoiding. Let’s make sure you can lead it before it — and you — blow up.
