The Topics We Avoid at Work—and How to Start Talking About Them

Money, politics, family responsibilities, age, ambition, and fear: Some of the topics that matter most to employees are the ones they feel least comfortable discussing at work. But avoiding these conversations can erode trust, undermine psychological safety, and leave leaders making decisions without crucial information. That's according to Christina Wing, a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, who argues that leaders need to get better at addressing workplace taboos. She explains how managers can create an environment where employees feel safe raising sensitive issues, and shares practical advice for addressing mistakes without defensiveness and helping employees speak up about their ambitions. Plus, how to recover when a discussion doesn't go as planned. Wing is author of the book Unspeakable: The Taboo Topics We Avoid and How to Talk About Them.