312 - Avoiding a Hard Conversation? 3 Plays to Help You Address the Issue Head-On

Pick up a copy of ⁠⁠The Mental Strength Playbook⁠⁠.
 
Have you ever rehearsed an uncomfortable conversation in your head over and over again? Maybe you want to ask for a raise, address something that hurt your feelings, or share bad news—but you keep running the words on a loop, hunting for the perfect way to say it.
 
While we like to practice, rehearsing isn’t actually helping. It’s worrying in disguise. Today, I’m sharing three plays that work a lot better, so you can stop dreading the conversation and find the courage to actually have it.
 
Some of the things I talk about are:
 

• The webinar I almost got roped into—and how I finally spoke up after weeks of staying quiet.
• Why rehearsing a conversation in advance often backfires and keeps you stuck.
• How “Flip the Script” stops your brain from treating the worst-case scenario like a prediction.
• Why generic affirmations like “you’ll do great” don’t work—and what to use instead.
• How to create a statement that works for you when the pressure is on.
• The play that takes the hardest part of a tough conversation and moves it to your prep phase.
• What to do when you’ve waited too long to raise an issue and it feels too late to speak up.
• Why you don’t have to feel 100% ready to walk into the room.

Key Takeaways:

• Flip the Script: You can develop a more realistic outcome by examining best-case scenarios if you think about the worst case. 
• Activate Your Power Phrase: A power phrase can give you courage right when you need it most. 
• Have an If-Then Plan: Prepare yourself with an actionable plan.

 
Avoid Over-rehearsing: Rehearsal can lead to more anxiety.