𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀.

A recurring challenge I hear from leaders:

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘁.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗲𝘁—𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁.

Why?

- Fear of conflict

- Worry about damaging relationships

- Hope that it just… improves on its own

🚨 Reality check: It won’t. 🚨

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀.

So, how do you handle Tough Conversations without drama, resentment, or unnecessary stress?

Here’s Your Playbook:

𝟭. 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝘁 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆—𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝘀

Don’t wait. Schedule a straightforward, no-BS conversation.

“𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘥 [𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦]. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯.”

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝗽: This isn’t a ‘gotcha’ moment. Approach it with curiosity, not frustration.

𝟮. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Vague feedback = vague results.

- What’s expected (be specific)

- Why it matters (connect to the bigger picture)

- What needs to change (set clear actions + deadlines

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Accountability ≠ punishment. It’s about giving them the clarity to succeed.

𝟯. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸-𝗜𝗻𝘀

No surprises. No confusion. No excuses.

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Keep check-ins structured:

- What’s improving?

- What’s still missing?

- What support do they need?

𝟰. 𝗥𝗲-𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀—𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆

After a month, where do things stand?

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝗽: No emotions. Just facts.

- If they’ve improved? Acknowledge it.

- If they haven’t? It’s decision time.

𝟱. 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽

Three paths:

- Support a transition out (with dignity)

- Adjust the role (if it’s a capability issue)

- Continue—but only if the improvement is real

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵? 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗻 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲.

- They lack clarity.

- They don’t know how to improve.

- They might not even want the role.

But before blaming the employee, ask yourself:

- Have I been crystal clear about expectations?

- Have I provided support & coaching?

- Have I created an environment where they can win?

Leadership isn’t about avoiding discomfort.

It’s about making difficult calls—with clarity and fairness.

💬 What’s your experience with these conversations?

Drop your insights below—let’s make leadership better, together. 👇

#Leadership  #Accountability  #hardconversation