Hi First name / Friend,
Have you ever put off an honest conversation longer than you should have?
I had a manager on my team, who was seasoned with many years of tenure, and oversaw a large territory. He knew the business better than anyone, myself included, but his performance was slipping, and the business needed more from him. His leader tried to deliver the message, but it didn't land. So I had to step in.
I was nervous walking into that meeting, because this wasn't a new employee finding their footing, but someone with real experience and real history. There was a chance that it wouldn’t go well, cause negative ripples across the team, and at worst case, lose the institutional knowledge he carried.
But what I wasn’t prepared for was how well it actually went. The conversation was honest, candid, on both sides. Once the truth was on the table, we stopped dancing around it. He knew where he stood. I knew where he needed more support. His leader knew where they needed to lean in.
The clarity we shared in that room created a better feedback loop, better ways of working, more transparency, and a deeper respect for all of us.
And yes, his performance improved, but more importantly, the relationship improved.
For a long time, I avoided hard conversations because I thought they'd damage the relationship, but I've learned the story usually goes the other way.
When the truth finally landed in that room, it didn't break anything. It cleared the air. We stopped tiptoeing around the real issues and started working better together. The relationship didn't suffer from the honesty, it was strengthened by it.
The conversations you're avoiding aren't protecting your team, but instead quietly eroding the trust you've already built.
So let me ask you:
- Where are you holding back a truth?
- What if the silence is doing more damage than the conversation ever would?
For this week, push yourself to have one honest conversation you've been putting off. Whether it’s giving tough feedback or setting a boundary or delivering an unpopular decision. Have the conversation not because it’ll be easy, but because your team deserves it.
Great leaders know that honesty is caring.
Here's to saying the hard thing.
