Have you ever put off a conversation with a co-worker or an employee because you knew it was going to be awkward or difficult? Like giving negative feedback or overcoming workplace friction? There have probably been those moments when you knew you should talk to someone, but you didn’t. It’s possible you’ve tried before, and it went badly. Because we’ve all had negative experiences in this regard, whether on the giving or receiving side of things, there will always be that fear of making the situation worse or even the fear of dealing with a defensive person.

If you’re like me, the last thing you want to do is micro-manage your team. But at some point or another, we all have to have those tough and crucial conversations with them. You’ll have to invite employees into your office for a performance review. Maybe you’ll have to discuss why expectations are not being met, set goals and action plans for improvement, tell them they have an odor or explain their language doesn’t fit in with your culture. No matter what you tell them, you just hope they don’t get too defensive and start any drama with the rest of the team.