The Need for Fierceness
“While no single conversation is guaranteed to change the trajectory of a career, a company, a relationship, or a life, any single conversation can.”
— Susan Scott, Fierce Conversations
A British study estimated that the average person has 27 conversations each day. Most of these interactions occur without much thought or intention, and rarely with a clear goal in mind. However, what changes would we see if we approached our everyday conversations with openness and purpose?
Fierce Conversations Can Unlock Potential and Overcome Obstacles
In her book Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life, One Conversation at a Time, author and leadership expert, Susan Scott, explores how direct, intentional dialogue can unlock potential and help us overcome obstacles.
Avoiding Difficult Conversations Prevents Progress
Both at work and at home, we often engage in surface-level conversations, while avoiding the ones we truly need to have. The reasons for this are varied but usually fall into one or more of the following categories.
We want to:
- Keep the peace
- Avoid conflict
- Steer clear of discomfort
But by avoiding difficult conversations, we stay stuck – unable to move forward. We cannot solve problems or move past challenges that we refuse to address.
Fierce or Real Conversations Are the Answer
In her book, Scott offers a solution to this problem, and that solution is Fierce Conversations. While the word fierce can evoke feelings of intensity, intimidation, or confrontation, Scott redefines it. She describes the word fierce as “robust, passionate, powerful, untamed.”
Her definition of a fierce conversation is one that is direct, intentional, and above all – real. In fact, one of her seven principles of fierce conversations encourages us to “come out from behind [ourselves], into the conversation, and make it real.”
The Need for Fierceness in the Conversations that Matter Most
So, what conversation have you been avoiding? What is that avoidance costing you – personally and professionally? The Westlark Advisors team is passionate about building trusted and mutually beneficial relationships with our energy industry clients. We want our clients to know that we have their best interests at heart.
In the coming weeks, we will bring you Part Two of this series. That post will break down the key components that make up a fierce conversation and explore how to bring this robust intentionality into the conversations that matter most.
Fierce Conversations – Part One
By Tina Schmitt
