Fear: the Silent Saboteur of Difficult Conversations

FEAR: The silent saboteur of difficult conversations

What makes difficult conversations so scary?

The answer is different for every person and every conversation.

That's why I ask my clients, what are they really worried about in their specific challenging situation to find out what is holding them back.

✅ Take a moment and think about your difficult conversation. What are you worried about? What is keeping you stuck? What is the worst scenario that can happen?

Here are a few common concerns of my clients that might give you an idea:
➡ What if the situation escalates into a conflict
➡ What if I hurt other person's feelings
➡ What if they say No or disagree with me
➡ What if this conversation damages our relationship
➡ What if emotions spill over
➡ What if I get misunderstood
➡ I don't like confrontations
➡ What if they judge me
➡ What if they start blaming me
➡ What if I don't know what to say
➡ What if we can't find a solution to this issue

Keep in mind that conversations we find challenging are an opportunity to face our fears and overcome them.

If you don't confront these fears, they become your silent saboteurs in difficult conversations: holding you back, keeping you stuck, and draining your energy, time, and money.

It's normal to feel overwhelmed and frustrated at first, as mentioned in my previous post. A lot is at stake, and many things are unpredictable and out of control.

However, don't dwell on these worries for too long.

Take the time to prepare and initiate the conversation.

Let me know how it goes.

Categories: difficult conversations