There’s usually a moment

You’re in a meeting.
The update’s moving along.
Everyone’s nodding.
But something in you tightens.

You feel it.
A hesitation in someone’s voice.
A glance avoided.
An elephant in the room, politely ignored.

And for a second, you think – should I say something?

Then the moment passes.

This is the moment leadership begins

Not in big speeches.
Not in strategy decks.
But in the quiet decision to name what others are skirting.

“I’m sensing some hesitation around this.”
“Is there something we’re not saying yet?”
“I could be wrong – but something feels off here.”

These are not attacks.
They’re openings.
Invitations.
Signals that this is a place where truth has a seat at the table.

Why people stop bringing things up

Because in the past, someone didn’t listen.
Or made it personal.
Or moved too fast to notice.
So people learn to hold back.
To wait until it’s safe.
To speak in hallways instead of rooms.

When a leader begins to gently name the unspoken, the room exhales.
Not always right away.
But over time.
And that exhale becomes the foundation of real trust.

How to build this into your rhythm

  • Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is.
  • Use language that invites, not confronts. Soft words can hold firm truths.
  • Hold space after you ask. Silence isn’t awkward – it’s necessary.
  • Accept that the first answer may not be the real one. Stay with it. Without pressing.
  • Model candor with humility. You don’t need to be right. Just willing.

If this stirred something in you

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers.
It’s about making room for the truth to surface.
If you’re ready to lead in a way that invites honesty, I’d be glad to walk alongside you.

What’s unspoken doesn’t disappear.
It just moves underground.
Say the thing. Gently.
Then let the real work begin.

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