Sooner or later we all need to have difficult conversations. The only sure way to avoid such conversations is to isolate yourself from other people. As tempting as it might seem at times, it’s not a sustainable approach.

The more significant the issue, the sooner you should discuss it. Time passing often makes it harder, not easier. The other person may be left wondering, “If it was so important, why did you wait to talk to me?”

Explaining why you waited so long may be even harder than the original topic. Perhaps explaining how difficult it is can take the edge off the delay. If not, the conversation still needs to happen. Avoidance is unlikely to improve the situation. If the shoe was on the other foot, would you rather someone approach you late or avoid it entirely?

What do you do to tackle difficult conversations with appropriate urgency?