How To Have Difficult Conversations

We avoid them like the plague, yet, we always have to have them.

Running from difficult conversations isn’t going to help, nor is running into the conversation like a mad hippo.

My best friend used to work for me.

He was working a deal with a foreign company to support engine material for a military aircraft.

We submitted the material for export through the Department of State.

I got a call from the FBI.

They called to inform me they would be visiting my facility the following day.

When the FBI agent showed up, he introduced himself, and his CIA friend. They were kind enough to bring me an FBI notebook.

Sweet guys.

They wanted to speak about our client. He was someone on the Department of States’ “questionable” list, so we could not export the material to him.

The asked me questions about him, and I had to volunteer to hand over the details.

I had to string this person along for months so the agents could continue their “work.”

In the end, we lost money and a TON of time.