đźš© Tactical Memo 004: Handling Conflict Without Losing Trust
Avoiding tough conversations doesn’t protect your team, it erodes their trust.
Justin Bateh
August 04, 2025
Welcome back to Tactical Memo.
This week, we're hitting one of the most avoided leadership skills head-on:
Having hard conversations without creating drama, resentment, or chaos.
Most leaders either delay them or dilute them.
But the longer you wait, the more trust you lose.
Let’s fix that.
Quick heads-up before we dive in...
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THE SITUATION
Too many leaders hope conflict will disappear on its own.
Instead of being direct, they soften the message.
They “check in” but never call it what it is.
Here’s what happens next:
Accountability fades
Team dynamics get weird
Performance drops quietly, then suddenly
When leaders avoid discomfort, the team pays the price.
THE STRATEGY
Use the CLEAR Framework
This 5-step script makes hard conversations easier for you and the other person.
Step | What to Say | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
Cut the Fluff | "Let’s talk about something that needs clarity." | Sets tone without tiptoeing or dragging it out |
Label the Behavior | "I noticed the report was submitted late the past 3 weeks." | Focuses on facts, not personality |
Explain the Impact | "It’s caused delays for the whole team and added rework." | Connects actions to real consequences |
Ask for Alignment | "Can you walk me through what’s been happening on your end?" | Creates dialogue, not a one-sided lecture |
Recommit or Redirect | "Let’s agree on what needs to happen moving forward." | Ends with clarity, not confusion |
You can use this in 5 minutes or less.
No scripts to memorize. Just structure that works.
THE IMPACT
Leaders who have clear conversations early:
Reduce tension instead of creating it
Keep teams aligned without resentment
Move projects forward with clarity, not silence
Earn trust because they say what others won’t
This doesn’t make you the “mean” leader.
It makes you the respected one.
TRY THIS TODAY
Pick one conversation you’ve been putting off
Use CLEAR to draft 3 sentences you’ll say out loud
Schedule the conversation for this week…don’t let it sit
Avoiding the talk is what makes it worse.
Clarity is your job now.
Until next time,
Justin
✍️ From the Desk of Justin Bateh, PhD
Real-world tactics. No fluff. Just what works.
