We've all done it. Avoided the conversation, hoped the problem would magically disappear, or convinced ourselves that someone should just know what we need without us having to actually say it.
And how's that working out?
The truth is, the conversations we avoid don't go away. They take up space, create resentment, damage relationships, and sometimes turn a relatively small issue into a full-blown shitshow.
In this episode of This Is Woman's Work, Nicole Kalil sits down with Christina Wing, Harvard Business School senior lecturer and author of Unspeakable: The Taboo Topics We Avoid and How to Talk About Them, to explore why we're so damn uncomfortable talking about the things that matter most.
In this episode, they discuss:
Why avoiding uncomfortable conversations often creates bigger problems than having them.
How talking about someone instead of to them can fuel resentment and unnecessary drama.
Why money conversations feel so personal and how to separate financial circumstances from self-worth.
The difference between a difficult conversation and a difficult moment.
How to recognize when it's your place to speak up and when it's better to stay out of it.
What to do when someone becomes defensive or refuses to engage.
Why everyday annoyances can turn into major relationship problems when left unaddressed.
The two biggest mistakes people make when approaching difficult conversations.
Why conversations about estate planning, death, and our final wishes need to happen sooner rather than later.
Having the conversation doesn't guarantee we'll get the outcome we want. But avoiding it almost guarantees we won't have a voice in what happens next.
Because sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is stop overthinking, stop rehearsing, and just say the damn thing.
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Connect with Christina:
Website: https://www.christinawing.com/
Book: https://www.christinawing.com/book/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/christina.r.wing/
Related Podcast Episodes:
How to Push Back: From People-Pleasing to Power with Tonya Lester | 369
Love, Money & Aging Parents: How to Plan Care (Before the Crisis) with Beth Pinsker | 359
195 / Finding (And Using) Your Voice with Amy Green Smith
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