Sanity Notes #024- What conversation is waiting to be had?

One of the most expensive forms of procrastination I witness as a coach is the avoidance of hard conversations.

2 Nov 2023 — 2 min read

What conversation is waiting to be had?

Looking for some support? If now is the time to consider coaching (or a CEO peer circle) reach out here.

I had a coach for eight years before I made the leap, a leap I never saw coming, to becoming a coach myself. During those eight years, one of the most powerful questions I remember my coach asking me is: What conversation is waiting to be had?

The last few weeks have been a sharp reminder of the power of that question. In that brief timeframe, I have witnessed:

A CEO come to tears as she expressed yet unspoken feelings of misalignment with her lead investors.
A co-founding team growing distanced over unshared hurt.
A leadership team ineffective in their work because accountabilities had not been discussed, delineated, and written down.

In my own life, I am finding myself distanced from someone I care about deeply because I have been hesitant to share some hurt openly. It happens to all of us.

In each of these examples, there is a conversation waiting to be had.

Asking ourselves where in our lives or leadership there is a conversation waiting to be had can be a powerful clarifying question.

We often delay difficult conversation because subconsciously we believe we are protecting the relationship by avoiding conflict. But if explore the decision from a more conscious and supported place, we often find that holding the conversation back is resulting in distance and isolation.

The way forward, the way into connection and clarity, is to have the conversations we have been delaying.

So what about you?

Considering your family, friendships, and work relationships, where is there a conversation waiting to be had?

What is it costing you to kick the can on having that conversation? What would it take to make today or this week the time for a courageous conversation?