#125 How to Communicate Hard Things with Farrah Mitra

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In this week’s episode of The Culture Coach Podcast, Wendy sits down with Farrah Mitra — executive coach, former Bain consultant, Cornell alum, and one of only fifteen Radical Candor™ coaches worldwide. Farrah's career has been built at the intersection of people, performance, and communication, and she brings a rare blend of strategic clarity and deep humanity to the conversations leaders fear most.

Together, Wendy and Farrah break down:

• Why communication is often the true bottleneck inside organizations — and how it silently shapes trust, culture, and retention.
• The thin line between “getting it right” and “getting it wrong” when messaging is high-stakes, emotional, or tied to people’s livelihoods.
• How two companies approached layoffs — one creating confusion and trauma, the other creating advocates even in the midst of hard decisions.
• Farrah’s 3-step Communicating Challenges & Change Framework used by executives across industries:
  • Identify the facts
  • Check your mindset
  • Deliver with care
• Why mindset is the hidden variable — and how unspoken frustration or dread leaks into every message we deliver.
• A practical formula for empathy that leaders can use without diluting clarity, over-apologizing, or losing authority.
• How leaders can shift from fear of difficult conversations to skillful, confident delivery.

This episode is a must-listen for leaders navigating performance conversations, reorganizations, role changes, or any situation where the stakes are high and emotions are real.

Connect With Farra Mitra

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farrah-mitra-executive-coach/
Email: [e-mail]

Links & Resources

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