Finding Your Voice Under Pressure: Courage, Conflict & Leadership Conversations (Compilation)

Say the Hard Thing: Courageous Conversations Under Pressure

Most difficult conversations don’t fail because we don’t know what to say.
They fail because fear shows up, emotions escalate, or we lose clarity under pressure.

In this compilation episode of The Art & Science of Difficult Conversations, we bring together three powerful conversations that walk you through the full arc of a hard conversation — from finding the courage to speak up, to staying grounded when emotions rise, to navigating real-world leadership pushback.

You’ll hear:

What courage really looks like in communication
Why waiting to feel “ready” often keeps us silent — and how to speak even when fear is present.

How to respond when someone becomes defensive or angry
Practical tools for de-escalation, emotional regulation, and keeping the conversation productive instead of reactive.

A real-life leadership roleplay: handling pushback from a team member
How to balance empathy and accountability when you still need results — without escalating conflict or damaging trust.

This episode is for you if:

• You avoid hard conversations longer than you want to admit

• You freeze or over-explain when emotions run high

• You’re a leader navigating resistance, pushback, or difficult dynamics

• You want to communicate clearly without losing yourself or the relationship

Difficult conversations don’t require perfection — they require presence, courage, and practice.
This episode gives you all three.

Connect with us:
Email – [email protected]
Chris – www.linkedin.com/in/chriswonglmhc and download the Difficult Conversation Playbook for Leaders
Lucie – www.linkedin.com/in/lucietesarova and take the Saboteur Assessment