The conversations we dread, the ones we avoid, and the ones that hold so much emotional weight – are often the ones we wish we’d had sooner. So why do we fear them so much?

As a recovering people-pleaser, I know the drill all too well: the bubbling resentment, the unmet needs, and the stories we fabricate in our minds. But rather than run from the difficult conversations in my life, I’ve learnt how to build the bridges that will carry me to a better outcome.

This solo episode is for my fellow people-pleasers, facilitators, leaders, and anyone with a hard conversation on the horizon. So join me, myself and I, as I share my tried-and-tested approach to mastering them with confidence and care!

Find out about:

The cost of avoiding challenging conversations – and the reward in embracing them
Tuning into our bodily signals to understand what’s happening beneath the emotion
Getting clear on the assumptions vs. the facts before a challenging conversation
Why we must acknowledge that challenging conversations starts with us first
Finding a common way forward without mutual agreement or violent language
Why sharing boundaries transparently can foster respect

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

HBR Article: The Right Way to Prepare for a High-Stakes Conversation
Deviate: The Science of Seeing Differently by Beau Lotto
SBI Feedback Model (Situation–Behavior–Impact)
Let Them: The Art of Detaching From Judgment by Mel Robbins
Difficult Conversations by Stone, Patton and Heen
Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson

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Edward Shils

The AI-powered Podcast Player