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.
The fear of conflict can have many roots. For one, we worry that confronting someone will fracture our relationship. Therefore, leaders must maintain strong relationships with their direct reports to ensure that the workweek goes smoothly and that tasks are completed without miscommunication, 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.
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:
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.
Coach Dave
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