Why Avoiding Difficult Conversations Costs You More Than You Think
Oct 13, 2025Most leaders say communication is one of their strengths — until a difficult conversation comes up.
You know the ones.
The ones that sit in your stomach like a stone.
You rehearse them ten times in your head… and still find a reason not to have them
Avoidance doesn’t protect relationships, it erodes them.
When we stay silent to “keep the peace”, what we actually create is confusion, tension, and slow-burn resentment, in ourselves and in our teams.
The Cost of Avoidance
When we avoid difficult conversations, we think we’re being kind.
In reality, we’re dropping hints instead of giving clarity.
People don’t get the message, frustration builds, and eventually that bottled-up emotion leaks out as passive aggression or disconnection
The longer we stay silent, the more it costs, not just in performance, but in trust and credibility.
Why We Do It
Avoidance is driven by fear, the ego’s protective instinct to keep us safe.
It whispers: “Don’t make it awkward. Keep the peace.”
But leadership isn’t about staying comfortable. It’s about creating clarity and growth, even when it’s uncomfortable.
That’s where heart-centred communication comes in.
What Heart-Centred Communication Really Means
Heart-centred communication doesn’t mean being nice.
It means being honest, with empathy
It’s not about being right or being liked.
It’s about being real in service of growth.
When you communicate from this place, you create what I call the Holy Trinity of Exceptional Communication:
Courage, Care, and Clarity.
That’s the leadership sweet spot, the space where feedback is constructive, relationships are strong, and growth is mutual.
Try This Instead
The next time you catch yourself avoiding a conversation, try opening with this line:
“I value our relationship and our work too much to let this sit. Can we talk about what’s not working so we can move forward?”
It’s simple, respectful, and powerful.
That one sentence signals courage, care, and clarity all at once.
Your Leadership Challenge
Think of one conversation you’ve been avoiding.
This week, have it.
Do it with heart, not heat.
Speak with clarity, not emotion.
And notice how much lighter the relationship feels once the air is clear.
Want to Go Deeper?
If you’d like practical scripts and prompts to help you say what needs to be said — without the fear or fallout — download my free Heart-Centred Communication Playbook.
It’s filled with frameworks and real-world conversation templates to help you:
- Build trust through honest feedback
- Stay calm and clear under pressure
- Strengthen relationships, even in conflict
👉 https://www.edgeofpossibilities.com.au/pl/2148709525
And if you haven’t yet watched the full episode, you can catch Take 5 with Me – “Avoiding Difficult Conversations Costs More than You Know” on YouTube.
👉 https://youtu.be/4QE_FqFoKnA
Because when you speak with courage and compassion, you don’t just communicate —
you lead exceptionally.
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