During our last webinar, Say What Needs to Be Said: How to Have Uncomfortable Conversations with More Ease, we had so many questions that we went over them over time. People stayed because they were hungry for real tools and language to use to have the uncomfortable conversations.
Because avoiding hard conversations doesn’t make tension disappear. It just makes the cost harder to track until it’s too late.
What Avoidance is Costing Us
Here’s what we shared during the session:
$12,000 per employee, per year is lost due to poor communication
70% of employees avoid tough conversations
Managers influence 70% of team engagement
Yet we still think staying silent keeps things “professional.” Here’s what I wish more leaders understood:
When your people are afraid to speak up, give feedback, or ask questions, morale is already gone.
And when morale is gone, the work becomes average at best.
What Helps Instead: Emotional Intelligence and a Plan
We introduced the WAVE™ Framework to give people a way into difficult conversations:
Wisdom: Know your triggers and intentions
Anchor: Regulate before you speak
Vision: Clarify what you want to happen
Engagement: Open the door to honest dialogue
It’s not magic. It’s clarity, practice, and courage to say what needs to be said with kindness.
A few takeaways:
Before any hard conversation, ask yourself:
What do I want them to know? How do I want them to feel? What do I hope they’ll do?
Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. Start with:
“This is hard to say, but it’s important.” or “Here’s what I’ve noticed…”
Being nice won’t move the work forward.
Clarity with care is what gets results and builds trust.
Ready for what’s next?
There’s more to say and more to practice.
Join me for our next live session on how to give feedback that builds trust.
The Feedback Equation™
Giving Clear, Actionable Feedback That Builds Trust
Tuesday, July 15 at 12:30 pm ET
In this free 45-minute webinar with Q&A, I’ll teach you a practical, human-centered framework for giving up, down, and across feedback with clarity, care, and connection.
You’ll also get a replay and downloadable worksheet when you register.
Avoidance protects comfort, not progress.
When you lean into the hard conversations, your team can do their best work, too.
Can’t join live? Register, and you’ll receive the replay and resource guide.
