“The things you avoid saying don’t disappear—they multiply in silence.” – Bruhad Buch

The Invisible Weight of Unsaid Words

He was a startup COO with a habit: SILENCE.
Not because he didn’t have things to say, but because he feared being the “bad guy.”
He tolerated late reports, sloppy communication, repeated oversteps.

And then one day, he exploded in a board meeting.

What shocked him wasn’t his outburst.
It was how long he’d rehearsed it in his head.

Most conversations don’t become hard.
They become hard because we delay them for too long.

Assertiveness is Not Aggression

We’ve been taught two models:

• Say nothing and suffer.
• Speak up and sound rude.

But there’s a third way: clarity with compassion.

Assertiveness isn’t raising your voice. It’s raising your value system—clearly, cleanly, calmly.

You can be kind and clear. You can be warm and firm.
Don’t pick sides. Practice both.

The Framework That Works

Here’s a 3-step script I give my clients:

1. Observation: “I noticed…”
2. Impact: “What that’s done is…”
3. Ask/Boundary: “What I need is…” or “Going forward, I expect…”

No blame. No drama. Just truth wrapped in intention.

You don’t need to win the conversation. You need to walk out of it with your peace intact.

Why We Avoid These Talks

Because they demand presence.
They trigger our people-pleasing, our fear of rejection, our need to be liked.

But every avoided conversation teaches the other person how far they can go.
And it teaches you how much you’re willing to tolerate.

Avoidance is quiet permission.
Speak before silence becomes self-betrayal.

The Energy Shift After Speaking Up

After the COO finally had those tough conversations, he didn’t just lead better—he slept better.
His body relaxed. His team respected him more.

The tension he thought he’d create by being direct?
It was already there—living inside him.

The cost of speaking up feels high,
until you realise the cost of not speaking is higher.

Let’s Have That Conversation

Struggling to say what needs to be said without burning bridges?
I coach leaders to master assertive conversations with empathy, clarity, and authority.

Let’s turn your tension into trust—one powerful conversation at a time.