04/17/2025

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Talking

Make difficult conversations your super-power

Having difficult conversations is one of the hardest — and most essential — leadership skills. Yet, the higher leaders climb, the more they tend to avoid addressing poor performance or behavior, often out of fear of being disliked. But avoiding friction points doesn't solve problems — it only delays them and often makes them worse. Authentic leadership has always required the courage to face issues directly.

While conflict avoiders may think they are being diplomatic, others view it as a weakness. The good news? Leaders who handle conflict well earn both the respect and admiration of others.

I once coached a CEO who avoided holding his executives accountable for their behavior. As a result, his leadership team turned toxic. Middle managers caught in the crossfire described it as a "Game of Thrones" environment. Whenever the CEO vented to me about their dysfunction, I'd ask, "Have you told them that?" His answer was always the same: "No." By failing to enforce standards, he created a leadership vacuum — accountability disappeared, decision-making stalled, profits declined and safety incidents escalated.

Please select this link to read the complete article from SmartBrief.