Do You Avoid Tough Conversations? Blind Spot #4

From the Author of Speak Up, Show Up, and Stand Out & Fearless Leadership

This is the fourth of 10 blind spots that can sabotage your effectiveness.

 Blind Spot #4–Avoiding Difficult Conversations.  What it Means.   

The definition: Avoiding the discomfort of dealing with certain topics and/or people.

If you have this blind spot you may also have a fear: Having a difficult conversation will make things worse.

 The Downside of Avoiding (and Postponing) Tough Conversations

Do tough conversations make you feel uncomfortable?  Do you avoid them or postpone them?

The problem is: If you can’t talk about it, you can’t resolve it.

If you consistently avoid difficult conversations, people will perceive you as:  weak, withholding your real feelings, and watering down your message. You’ll lose credibility when people discover they can’t count on you to be direct.

Do YOU Avoid Tough Conversations?   

Ask others to rate you on the following items using the scale of 1 (rarely) to 5 (frequently).

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How do you rate?

32 to 40:    You shut yourself—and everyone else—down. People can count on you to run and hide.

17 to 31:    You shy away from certain issues. Your behavior is inconsistent.

8 to 16:       You speak up and handle tough issues. Just make sure you speak up responsibly.

Want More?

Read the book Fearless Leadership and the anti-blogs on The 10 Blind Spots.

Anti Blog

Dr. Loretta Malandro is the CEO of the Malandro Consulting Group (www.malandro.com) and the author of several landmark business communication books including: Fearless Leadership, Say It Right the First Time, and her new book, “Speak Up, Show Up, and Stand Out: The 9 Communication Rules You Need to Succeed”.

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The 10 Blind Spots that Undermine Your Success

From the Author of Speak Up, Show Up, and Stand Out & Fearless Leadership

Blind Spots. What are They? 

The phrase blind spots sounds like a character flaw, a defect, or something that is wrong with you.  None of the above.

Blind spots are automatic and unproductive behaviors that others can see in you but you cannot see in yourself.

Everyone Suffers When You are Blind to Your Blind Spots 

Because blind spots are outside of your awareness, you may be repeating the same unproductive behavior and getting the same results—people working around you and not with you.

You’re not intentionally trying to frustrate or hurt others, but everyone suffers just the same—you, your career, your coworkers, and your family. 

Are You Successful In Spite of Yourself?

It doesn’t matter if you’re a super-star. Everyone has blind spots.  Being successful is not a valid measure of your optimal effectiveness. All it means is that you’ve gone as far as you can go despite your blind spots. The crucial question is:

  “How much more could you achieve if you transformed your ineffective behavior into effective behavior? 

How do You Rate?

Do you think you have any of the following blind spots?

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Learn More about Yourself and Each Blind Spot

Each blind spot will have its own anti-blog.  Stay tuned as we post them weekly. For a more in-depth discussion of blind spots, read Fearless Leadership.

Anti Blog

Dr. Loretta Malandro is the CEO of the Malandro Consulting Group (www.malandro.com) and the author of several landmark business communication books including: Fearless Leadership, Say It Right the First Time, and her new book, “Speak Up, Show Up, and Stand Out: The 9 Communication Rules You Need to Succeed”.

 

 

 

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