On the show Abbott Elementary, veteran teacher Mrs. Howard has to cajole the new substitute teacher into talking with the parent of a child who repeatedly comes late to class. “If you’re going to do this job, awkward conversations come with it. You need to learn to say what you need to get what you want,” she counsels him.
Howard’s advice is good for everyone, not just the new kid on the block. It may be uncomfortable to express your opinion or to request that someone alter their behavior but those conversations are precisely what help create change and provide you with the respect and resources you desire.
Awkward shouldn’t be a deal breaker. Instead, treat it as a sign that you are on the path toward saying what needs to be said.
