"I just want to get through this quarter. Maybe when things calm down."

"I just want to get through this quarter. Maybe when things calm down."

Angela knew things weren't going to calm down.
But she kept putting off the conversation anyway.

She was a Chief Customer Officer at a fast-growing SaaS company, butting heads with the CRO in almost every meeting. Customers were confused. Team morale was suffering. She knew it was hurting the business.

And she still couldn't make herself deal with it. 😬

So we slowed down and looked at what was actually happening. What did Angela think of the CRO — as a person, not just as the obstacle in her way?

Turns out, Angela thought the CRO was a kind human who was working hard. Stressed, under pressure, trying to hit her goals. Which, Angela realized, sounded a lot like how she'd describe herself.

She'd been so focused on defending her team's work that she'd stopped listening to what the CRO actually needed. The CRO had responded by shutting her out. Neither of them was the villain. They'd just gotten stuck in a pattern.

Once Angela could see that, she was ready to try something different.

Over the next few months we focused on her taking specific, small steps. She found ways to get on the same side of the table as the CRO. She listened more. She stopped waiting for the CRO to change and started changing how she showed up instead. Eventually she scheduled time to talk about the relationship directly.

It worked. 💪🏻

Today they tackle business goals together, disagree and commit when they need to, and actually enjoy working together.

The hard conversation Angela kept avoiding? The exact next step she needed.

What's the conversation you keep telling yourself you'll have "when things calm down"? Send me a note 😉