Courageous Conversations

Why do some conversations require courage?

Most leaders don't avoid hard conversations just because they're time poor.

It’s certainly part of it, but not the full story. When we're about to say something that matters, there's a real or perceived risk at play - to the relationship, to how we're perceived, or to the outcome we're hoping for.

The brain registers that risk, and the body responds accordingly. The heart rate goes up, and anxious thoughts circulate along with a very strong preference to push it to next week.

These are signals that the conversation matters, rather than reasons to avoid it.

The most courageous conversations aren't the ones where leaders have felt no fear. They're the ones where they felt it and spoke up anyway. Usually with more care and precision than if they'd just charged ahead.

The discomfort before a hard conversation is very real, but it's also a source of information. It’s telling you that it matters, it's delicate and that's worth preparing well for.