Opening the Door to Better Conversations

In healthcare, we all face moments where a conversation feels heavier than we’d like. A colleague is struggling. A physician bristles at feedback. A family disagrees with the plan of care. These moments can feel like barriers.

Yet every “hard” conversation also holds an opening. If we step into it with curiosity and empathy, we create the possibility for something better: for understanding, trust, and healing.

Avoiding tough conversations only deepens the gap. Teams begin to question one another. Patients feel the uncertainty. And when we carry the stress in silence, the weight grows heavier the longer we wait.

But what happens if we shift the frame?
- “You never follow through” becomes “I’ve noticed deadlines are slipping — what’s getting in the way?”
- “This family is difficult” becomes “This family is afraid — how do we help them feel heard?”

One small change in language can transform tension into collaboration. Instead of shutting a door, you’re opening one.

The invitation this month is simple: practice leaning into one conversation you’ve been putting off. Not to confront, but to connect. Not to prove, but to understand.

Hard conversations don’t disappear. But when we approach them with openness, they often become the very place where trust is built, care becomes clearer, and relationships are restored.