Overcoming Your Fear of Confrontation & Conflict with Direct Reports

Last Updated on May 31, 2023 by Dave Schoenbeck

Almost all business leaders, managers, and owners find it challenging to learn to deal with conflict. However, overcoming the fear of confrontation is essential for anyone in a leadership position, as confronting direct reports is occasionally part of a manager’s duty. 

You don’t have to let the fear of conflict at work get in your way. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Do I Have a Fear of Conflict?

Having a fear of conflict doesn’t make you weak. On the contrary, almost everyone would rather avoid conflict than deal with it head-on. Conflict is uncomfortable by nature, even when necessary for the greater good. 

Fear of conflict can stem from many roots. For one, we worry that we will fracture our relationship with the other person if we confront them. Therefore, leaders must maintain a strong relationship with their direct reports to make the workweek go smoothly and ensure that tasks are completed without miscommunications, which is a valid fear. 

For some, it’s more about wanting to be liked by others. For example, most people would probably wish their coworkers would like them. However, when the desire to be liked prevents you from giving honest feedback to a direct report, it becomes a problem. 

Regardless of the cause, fear of confronting direct reports can impede workflow and lead to more significant issues. Therefore, it’s crucial to overcome this fear to communicate effectively and provide the guidance that your direct reports need from you. 

How to Get Over Fear of Confrontation

Overcoming the fear of confrontation doesn’t happen overnight, but you can achieve it through consistent behaviors. Here’s what you need to keep in mind when confronting direct reports:

• Conflict does not resolve itself. The only way to fix a problem is to address it. So you’re doing your people kindness by bringing up issues early on and allowing them to fix things before their behaviors become habits. 
• Reframe the issue. Conflict often feels like you vs. another person, but it should be the two of you vs. the problem. Your direct report is your ally, and both of you are vested in solving whatever problem has arisen. Please don’t make it personal; hopefully, they won’t take it personally. 
• Be respectful. How you confront someone will go a long way toward achieving an optimal outcome. Deliver negative feedback gently and be ready to understand their point of view. 
• Lead by example. The way you address conflict with your direct reports will provide them with a framework for addressing conflict with each other. It would be best if you modeled a healthy way of delivering feedback, even when you’re afraid. You’re doing your team service by showing them the way forward. 
• Give positive feedback, too. If your team only hears from you when something is wrong, they’ll become demoralized and gun-shy. It would help if you regularly delivered positive feedback so negative feedback doesn’t feel as personal. This will also make it easier for you to raise your colleagues’ problems in the future, as they’ll know their work is valued. 

It’s not easy to overcome our fear of confronting direct reports. However, a professional business coach can help. Click here to fill out my contact form, and we can discuss how to be more comfortable with confrontation in the workplace.

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Dave Schoenbeck

CEO at Dave Schoenbeck - Business & Executive Coach

Dave Schoenbeck is a professional business and executive coach who translates complex business methods, processes, and strategies into actionable plans to dramatically improve financial results. Read more about Dave here.

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