I’m facilitating a session about having difficult conversations. My previous experience with this topic leads me to believe that the issue isn’t really how to have these uncomfortable communications — people know that they should address the issue. The real need is to inspire courage to have the conversation in the first place. We are masterful at procrastinating and rationalizing that things will work themselves out, that now isn’t the right time, or any other of a litany of excuses. Most would like to avoid the topic permanently.
It brings to mind a quote by Washington Post columnist Carolyn Hax: “Silence always makes things worse; it just takes longer to get there.” How true! It’s so much easier to address an issue when it is a minor one. As we let things fester, the accompanying emotion causes the angst to grow exponentially, often leading to an irrational exchange once silence is broken.
If you have something that needs to be said, use your voice as soon as you come to that realization. It’s far better to clear the air and realign any misunderstanding than to let the void overtake you.
