The Right Way To Handle Conflict When Someone Is Clearly Wrong The Business Mechanic Show podcast

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The Right Way to Handle Conflict When Someone Is Clearly Wrong

10d ago 27:48

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In this power-packed episode of The Business Mechanic Show, Vaughn Sigmon uncovers the hidden fears behind why managers avoid difficult conversations—and gives you a bulletproof playbook for how to overcome them.

From confronting an underperforming direct report to correcting a peer’s mistake, Vaughn explains how to step into these tough moments without triggering defensiveness or losing trust. You’ll learn the top 10 psychological blocks that cause avoidance and the exact dialogue strategies to lead through it with calm, curiosity, and authority.

If you've ever avoided a tough conversation because you were worried about conflict, emotion, or saying the wrong thing—this episode will flip your approach forever.

And yes—when someone is flat-out wrong, Vaughn will show you how to fix it without blowing up the relationship.

💡 This is essential listening for anyone who leads people. 🎯 Stick around to the end—there’s a simple 3-part checklist that turns you from a reactive manager into a respected leader.

📕 Want to go deeper? Download Vaughn’s free book The Roadmap to Difficult Conversations—link in the show notes.

⏱ Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Avoiding difficult conversations = approving poor performance 01:35 – What you don’t say speaks louder than what you do 02:58 – Fear is the root cause: False Expectations Appearing Real 04:25 – Top 10 psychological fears that cause avoidance 04:30 – #1: Fear of conflict 05:05 – #2: Fear of damaging the relationship 05:39 – #3: Fear of being seen as the bad guy 06:20 – #4: Fear of not knowing what to say 07:00 – #5: Fear of emotional reactions 07:36 – #6: Fear of losing control of your own emotions 08:05 – #7: Fear of disagreement or rejection 08:35 – #8: Fear of HR or higher-ups getting involved 09:25 – #9: Fear of crushing morale 10:15 – #10: Fear of confronting your own leadership gaps 11:05 – The shift: They’re clearly wrong… but steamrolling them doesn’t work 12:20 – Cognitive dissonance and ego protection 13:05 – Validate first, guide later 14:00 – Sample phrases to invite their perspective 15:35 – Don’t assume intent—ask first 16:25 – Tactical empathy and the Chris Voss approach 17:25 – What to say when emotions run hot (Jefferson Fisher line) 18:10 – Real-world example: missed deadline + finger pointing 19:15 – Get their story, then guide the correction 20:40 – Invite the shift: “Want me to walk you through how I see it?” 21:30 – Focus on clarity, not control 22:20 – Language that builds trust, not shame 23:15 – Growth > Perfection. Turn mistakes into teachable moments 24:15 – The 3-part leadership checklist: Connect. Guide. Don’t react. 25:05 – Closing: Subscribe, share, and download the free book

🔗 Resources

📘 Download the Free eBook: The Roadmap to Difficult Conversations 🌐 Explore Our Leadership Programs: rdltraining.com

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