Saying the wrong thing

Are you a manager who’s worried about saying the wrong thing? You’re not alone. 💭

We hear this all the time. Managers are scared of personal grievances, so conversations get delayed or avoided altogether. The reality is, a personal grievance is not the end of the world. Most never make it anywhere near the Employment Relations Authority, and there are plenty of opportunities to resolve issues well before things escalate.

If there’s conflict brewing in a relationship, the sooner it’s brought to the surface, the sooner everyone can move forward. Avoiding the conversation often creates more stress, more risk and more impact across the wider team.

When you’re weighing things up, it helps to look at the bigger picture. What’s the employment relations risk compared with health and safety risk? What’s the impact on other team members? What about operational continuity or customer relationships if behaviour is affecting the environment?

Taking action early, having the conversation, and addressing issues directly is often a relief in the end. Most managers tell me they wish they’d done it sooner.

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about how to approach a difficult conversation, DM me anytime. I’m happy to help you think it through. 😊

✉️ lisa@peopleassociates.nz

📞 027 573 5483

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