Say it clearly (without making it worse)
So you know you need to have the conversation…
But now you’re thinking:
“What do I actually say?”
This is where most leaders get stuck.
🚫 What Doesn’t Work
Most difficult conversations go sideways because we:
Soften the message too much
Talk around the issue
Or come in too direct and trigger defensiveness
Either way—the message doesn’t land.
🧠 A Better Way to Structure It
Here’s a simple structure that works:
1. Start with clarity (facts, not emotion) from your perspective:
“I’ve been noticing…”
2. Explain the impact
“Here’s why this matters…”
3. Set expectations moving forward
“This is what needs to happen going forward…”
That’s it. Clear. Direct. Respectful.
📖 What Happens When You Get It Right
I’ve seen leaders delay conversations for weeks…
When they finally had the conversation I usually hear that it went far better than expected once they finally addressed the issue clearly.
Because most people don’t need perfection they need clarity
🔧 Want Help Structuring Your Exact Conversation?
This is where most people still struggle:
👉 “How do I apply this to my situation?”
That’s exactly why I built a tool to help.
It takes your situation and helps you:
Organize your thoughts
Structure the conversation
Even suggest how to phrase it
I’ll show you more about it next week
⚡ Your Next Step
Before you close this email:
Write down the opening line for the conversation you’ve been avoiding.
Don’t overthink it. Just start
And if you haven’t grabbed it yet: