For leaders, before the hard part
The conversation you’ve been putting off deserves five minutes of preparation.
Performance slipping. Something clearly wrong. Something they just told you that you weren’t ready to hear. This walks you through what to say, what not to say, and what to do afterwards.
Safety is built before it's needed
Trust isn't only earned in a crisis. It's built in ordinary moments — being present without judgement, listening before you react, and responding well when something goes wrong. That's what makes someone safe to talk to.
Receive before you resolve
The instinct to fix removes control from someone who has just lost some. Ask what they want first.
Keep the standard, flex the path
Continuing to believe in someone's work is a form of support. Lowering expectations quietly writes them off.
Consistency is the whole thing
One good conversation is a moment. The unprompted follow-up is what makes work the steady part of a hard month.
What are you walking into?
Pick the closest situation. You'll get a five-minute prep, not a script to read aloud.
You are their leader, not their therapist
If someone discloses abuse or is in danger, your job is to believe them, protect their control over what happens next, and connect them to people trained for it — your employee assistance programme, or a national domestic violence helpline. Never investigate, never advise them to leave, never tell anyone else without telling them first.