Bob knew he needed to have a difficult conversation with a member of his team. The behavior was clear, the negative impact was real, and the conversation was overdue.

But he couldn't bring himself to do it.

His team was already short-staffed, and every time he thought about delivering the feedback, the same movie played in his head. The team member gets defensive, shuts down, and walks out the door.

So he delayed and kicked the can down the road. And while the team member didn't leave, the behavior stayed.

Finally, Bob had had enough. Together in a coaching session we prepared, practiced, and then he had the conversation.

To his surprise. The team member didn't get defensive or threaten to leave. Instead, he thanked Bob for his candor, for holding the standard, and promised to do better.

The thing Brian feared most never happened. Which is why it’s important you remember the best acronym for FEAR:

F.E.A.R. = False Evidence Appearing Real

Most of the difficult conversations you are avoiding aren't going to end the way you think. The other person, who you think will explode, won't. The person you think can't handle honesty, can. The relationship you think will break, won't. More often than not, the other person has been waiting for someone to care enough to say something.

So get to the root of your fear today. Is it real? Is it justified? Or is it just a movie you keep playing in your head that hasn't happened and probably won't?

Stop kicking the can and have the conversation.

P.S. The Optimistic Outlook is a Podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts would mean a lot.