Most leaders avoid difficult conversations because they feel risky. Beneath the surface sits an unspoken value: “don’t blow it up.” The fear is simple, if they confront the issue, someone might quit. If someone quits, the team is short-staffed. And if the team is short-staffed…the spiral begins.

But silence doesn’t solve the problem, it stockpiles it. And when it finally blows, it’s usually bigger, messier, and more expensive than if the conversation had happened earlier.

This episode introduces a simple framework that helps leaders step into hard conversations with clarity and less defensiveness: Nonviolent Communication (NVC):

1. Observation – “Here’s what I’ve noticed…”
2. Feeling – “Here’s how it impacts me/the team…”
3. Need – “Here’s what we need moving forward…”
4. Request – “Can we work on this together?”

The point isn’t to soften accountability, but to create space for honesty that builds trust instead of breaking it.