Do you avoid having awkward conversations? As a leader, what comes to mind when you think about, for example, making someone redundant? 

I’ve had so many leaders ask me “What if they cry?” or “What if I open a can of worms and don’t know what to do?”

In this episode, I tell the story of what happened when I coached one large retail organisation through massive organisational change, and I share why making space for people to air their feelings out loud - even, and perhaps particularly, when the content is difficult - makes change much easier to manage.

Let’s think about:

When you try to shut down people’s complaints and feelings down they don’t go away; in fact often they will just get stronger.

• People won’t be upset for long if they are feeling heard, but they can stay upset for years when they believe no one listened.
• Most people will make an internal shift for themselves if you give them a forum to be heard.
• You lose loyalty if you don’t allow people to have their feelings. 
• If you want people to feel anything, you have to let them feel everything.
• The container matters – don’t let those worms wriggle free! Set up a safe container to hold space for people’s feelings.

And remember, when you show people compassion they will thank you, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

If this is a conversation you would like to continue, come over to https://noominatan.com/ and drop me a line. I’d be so happy to support you with this.

And remember, now is a great time to breathe.