In the post, they explain that the ‘we need to talk’ message often triggers people’s anxiety and offer some alternatives. For example: “Hey, when you have a moment would you mind meeting/calling me to discuss [insert topic]?”

Another alternative they suggest is, “Hey, I’ve got a couple of questions about [insert topic] – do you mind giving me a call when you have time to discuss it?”

The post explains that there are three ways in which these alternatives will help reduce anxiety. Firstly, they provide context about the subject matter which they explain will help minimise worry and prevent overthinking. “If it’s a difficult subject matter, please minimise the “wait time” between when you inform them and when you have the discussion,” they add.

“We need to talk”: alternatives to this stressful text that won’t trigger anxiety