Sixteen moments that test anyone leading a team, and a calm, honest thing to say in each. Borrow the wording, then make it your own.
The skill is choosing the next sentence with care. Here is a considered response for a handful of them, with a plainer version for when you want fewer words.
In the moment
- Under pressure: "I need to pause and collect my thoughts for a moment." Or, simply: "Give me a minute to think."
- Giving feedback: "I appreciate your work on this. Would you be open to a suggestion that might help?"
- When someone makes a mistake: "These things happen. What can we learn from this to make things better going forward?"
- Apologising: "I apologise. I understand how my actions affected you. How can I make this right?"
- Managing conflict: "Your perspective is important to me. How can we find a solution that works for everyone?"
- Showing empathy: "I hear how difficult this is. What kind of support would be helpful right now?"
The full guide covers sixteen moments in all, including feeling overwhelmed, anxious or angry, giving encouragement, asking for and receiving feedback, setting boundaries, and holding someone accountable, plus a one-page quick reference.
These are starting points, not scripts. Said honestly, in your own voice, they keep a hard moment from getting harder. Download the full guide to keep it close.