Thoughts of October conjure up some of our worst fears. But the fear of facing scary conversations in the workplace can leave even the best of us trembling in our boots. Few people enjoy confronting others when faced with conflict, but we want to encourage you to face your fears head-on. Difficult conversations in the workplace are unavoidable, but they don't have to be uncomfortable or damaging. Having a tough conversation with a co-worker or team member can be an opportunity to resolve conflicts, improve your relationships, and increase productivity.

Well before COVID-19, we talked about the importance of virtual meetings and utilizing Zoom. After two years of working during a pandemic, many teams are experiencing Zoom fatigue. It’s essential to ensure that you aren’t having meetings just to have meetings. They still need to be effective and efficient, and if they are unnecessary - don’t have them.

Leaders often assume they are effective communicators only to discover that they are clear as mud. It is important to make sure when you communicate with your team that you are straightforward, they understand you and your tone, and take away action steps from your conversations - whether these are emails, phone calls, video calls, or in-person conversations.