 |
4D Human Being Podcast | Live and Lead with ImpactAuthor: 4D Human Being
Are You Happening to the World or is the World Happening to You?Welcome to the 4D Human Being Podcast, where we dive deep into the world of personal and professional development. Hosted by co-directors Penelope and Philippa Waller, this podcast offers a refreshing blend of insightful discussions, practical advice, and transformative strategies. 4D Human Being bring you the very best in communication skills, leadership development, emotional intelligence all within this very podcast, inspiring you to become a more empathetic, focused, and successful leader. Whether you're looking to elevate your personal WellBeing, enhance your professional impact, or explore the profound joy of connecting with others, the 4D Human Being Podcast is your go-to source for fostering growth and navigating the complexities of the human experience. Join us as we explore how to thrive in all four dimensions of life, and not just be a 3D human doing, but a 4D Human Being. Language: en-gb Genres: Business, Careers, Management Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
Listen Now...
Why We Avoid Difficult Conversations
Tuesday, 3 November, 2026
When did you last avoid a difficult conversation?Maybe it was this morning. Maybe you are avoiding one right now. The email you keep opening and closing. The colleague you have been very politely walking past. The thing everyone in the team knows about and nobody says out loud.In this first episode of their four part podcast series on managing difficult conversations, Phil and Pen, directors at 4D Human Being, explain why we avoid the conversations that matter, and how to start doing it differently. Conflict at work is normal, so the goal is not to get rid of it. It is to feel more able to hold it, with more choice and less fallout.So why do we avoid them? As Phil and Pen put it, you are not afraid for the reason you think you are. Fight, flight, freeze and fawn are patterns we learned as children to stay safe, and they are still running the show. This episode helps you spot your own, and explains why your boss is not your parent.From the uncomfortable question of whose difficult person you might be, to why being nice protects the moment but being kind protects the relationship, to the therapy idea of rupture and repair and why “shall I put the kettle on?” can be the perfect first step, this episode is packed with honest examples and simple tools you can use in your very next conversation.85% of employees have to deal with conflict at work, and research suggests it costs UK organisations nearly £30 billion a year. That is a lot of time, energy and money going into conversations that are not being handled well.In this episode you’ll discover:Why conflict is normal, and why we avoid it so often at work and at homeWhy you are not afraid for the reason you think you are, and how fight, flight, freeze and fawn shape the conversations you avoidThe difference between being nice and being kind, and how rupture and repair builds trustFive practical tools, from three simple sentence starters and “what am I really afraid of?” to dialling it 10%, escaping the “I’m right, you’re wrong” trap and asking “who sees this differently?”By the end of this episode, we want you to try one thing. This week, catch yourself once. Notice the moment you go quiet, say yes when you mean no, or push to win. You do not have to fix it. Just make one small, 10% different choice. Because the teams that achieve extraordinary success are not the ones who never disagree. They are the ones who have learned to disagree well.This is episode one of a four part podcast series on difficult conversations. Next up in the podcast: how to open a difficult conversation well.The wait is over! The brand new Managing Difficult Conversations series is finally here on 4D On Demand, a separate series and a valuable toolkit for anyone who wants to handle tricky conversations with more confidence, whether you are a leader, a team member or an organisation looking to skill up your people. Find out more at 4dhumanbeing.com.Sources: CPP Global Human Capital Report (2008); Acas, Estimating the costs of workplace conflict (2021)
