How to postpone a difficult conversation tactfully

Language for expressing your desire to wait without coming across as dismissive or avoidant

📌 Looking for fresh ideas for language to use in challenging situations? Submit your request and I’ll continue to use reader requests to inform future Vocab Lab posts.

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A subscriber sent me this Vocab Lab request:

My supervisor is always pushing me to resolve things immediately if we have some tension, but honestly, I’m worried I’ll say something I’ll regret if we hash it out right away. I really want to address issues constructively, but I feel like I need a little time to process everything first. How can I let her know that I need a moment to gather my thoughts without coming across as avoidant? She definitely doesn’t like that.

I really appreciate this reader’s self-awareness and sensitivity to ways her supervisor likes to operate. She’s wise to know when she needs a bit of time to regain her balance and collect her thoughts, and smart to recognize that putting off the conversation can appear dismissive or avoidant.