Say this to make hard conversations less awkward

😬 Today’s tip: To broach a tough conversation, state the purpose up front.

Few opening lines inspire more dread than “We need to talk.” Next time you need to hash out something uncomfortable, just tell the other person what’s coming: “I want to talk to you about boundaries/that deadline you blew/the tower of dishes building up in the sink.”

It’s a kindness, yes, but there’s a pragmatic motivation here, too — if you establish the terms of the conversation from the outset, the person you’re talking to will be more engaged with what you have to say, and less preoccupied with waiting for the bad news to drop.

📚 More from Forge on making it through uncomfortable moments:

How to Talk to People Who’ve Been Through Some S#@t
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The 2-Word Trick That Makes Small Talk Interesting
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We All Suck at Group Texting
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