The 3-Minute Conversation That Could Save Your Career (and Sanity)

Kelsey Pelzer

Fri, March 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM UTC

3 min read

The 3-Minute Conversation That Could Save Your Career (and Sanity)

Jenny Wood emphasizes the importance of having difficult conversations in the workplace to establish trust and mutual respect.
Avoiding awkward conversations can lead to years of soured relationships, while addressing issues head-on can lead to healthier dynamics.
Having tough conversations can help differentiate between perceived truths and actual intentions, leading to more fulfilling and productive relationships.

At work, there are plenty of opportunities to experience a misunderstanding or face confrontation. And, unfortunately, those moments hold so much power over the happiness and overall morale of employees. While it may seem easier to bite your tongue in the moment, Jenny Wood recently shared on the Good Life Project podcast that it's actually important (for your career growth and sanity, at the very least) to speak up.

On podcast episode #1118 titled " The Secret Ingredient To A Dream Career And Life ," Wood, author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It , told host Jonathan Fields why it's so important to embrace having difficult conversations—especially in the workplace.

Maybe it's figuring out how to replace saying "It's OK," when it's really not OK. Maybe it's addressing gossip or a rude comment someone directed at you in a meeting. It might feel easy to gaslight yourself into believing your concerns aren't valid, but if you're replaying these unhealthy dynamics or situations long after the fact, it's important to tackle the issue head-on.

"In those cases where there's not a healthy relationship, my best advice is have that awkward conversation for three minutes and get on the same page so that you can have that foundation of psychological safety, that foundation of trust and giving and mutual respect," Wood shared. "People will often forego that three-minute awkward conversation of, 'Hey, let's get on the same page. Hey, how are you feeling about this dynamic? How are you feeling about this relationship? How are you feeling about the split of our workload?' People will often forego that three-minute awkward conversation, and they will accept three years of a soured relationship. And that's unfortunate."

Having these tough conversations can also help you navigate between "truths and tales," Wood explained.

"Before the conversation, you're living in your head and you're saying, 'Well, they probably think this and that,'" she continued. "And this happened to me at work about five years ago. Someone sent an email. It really rubbed me the wrong way. And I was like, 'This person hates me. This person doesn't respect my work.'"

She would wake up between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., "heart pounding," worrying about this relationship and wondering what they actually thought of her.

"And then when I had that conversation, I was like, 'Hey, can we just chat for a few minutes?'" Wood said. "And we cleared it up. That 100% was not their intention. They were tired and stressed. They told me when they wrote it and that they really valued me and the partnership. And those were facts, right? They wrote an email. There was a sentence that said x, y, z. And then, you know, once I was able to separate the truths from the tales, I was able to have a much more happy, productive, fulfilling relationship with this person."

So, instead of avoiding these awkward and uncomfortable conversations, try a three-minute check-in—you'll likely feel a ton of weight lifted off your shoulders (and your mind!).

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