avoiding harrowing conversations
Not representative of the people I work with, they're normally far more animated and learning to avoid deadly conversations.
🎃 Halloween and avoiding harrowing conversations
I like Halloween, mostly because my favourite colour, orange, is in most shop windows.
🧡 Orange aside, we don’t want anyone feeling tricked… and conversations should be a treat (OK, at least pleasant).
So, here’s your guide for conversations that don’t suck the life out of people:
🦇 Being Spooky
Fear from the unexpected shuts people down. They might not scream out loud, but if they want to, they’ll quietly avoid you next time.
Keep surprises to a minimum!
👻 Ghosting
If someone asks you something, then reply.
It’s not clever to vanish; it’s cowardly. It’s not mysterious; it’s unintelligent avoidance.
Plus, you could be breaking a work contract where there's a line about communicating.
🎃 Pumpkin-carving
You hollow it out, stab a few holes, stick in a candle … . looks great for a couple of days, then it starts to rot and stink.
Same goes for people.
If you pick them apart, even unintentionally, don’t expect them to “get over it”. They won’t be glowing anytime soon, and the smell of resentment lingers.
💀 Skeleton-hiding
We all have them. But some people waste a lot of energy hiding their skeletons and call it “being professional.”
Here’s the thing: showing vulnerability isn’t BEING vulnerable.
Owning what you don’t know, or where you’re learning, earns more respect than some bulletproof pretence.
🧟♀️ Turning Zombie
Not everyone responds fast. Some people think, pause, or reflect. That doesn’t mean they’re not alive inside.
Stop talking over them, finishing their sentences, or assuming you know best.
That’s how you make yourself look like the zombie…stumbling through unaware.
🧛 Playing Vampire
If you have to sink your teeth into someone to make them see something your way .. congratulations, you’ve become the conversational vampire.
Sharp tongue, bit of a threat, BIG energy drain! You just you turn them ....OFF!
We’ve ALL been guilty.
👉 The fix?
Signal your intentions.
Find courage and show up.
Be the person people trust, to handle things like a grown-up, not a ghost. Because great conversations aren't supernatural, just natural.
What's the worst trick you've seen people pull?
(Image: Not representative of the people I work with, they're normally far more animated and learning to avoid deadly conversations.)
P.S. If you want to learn more about not sucking the life out of someone in a conversation, get in touch. - see the contact page to book.
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The nuggets you shared with us will hopefully remain for a lifetime.
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