“If I understand you correctly, you’re asking [why/how/when/who…] Is this what you mean?”
“I’m glad you asked me that. It raises an important question about…”
“We have not decided that yet…”
“Before I answer, does anyone here have any insights they can share on this one?”
Sometimes, you just have to come clean and admit that you don’t know the answer – but how you do it is key. “Fess up” confidently and without a hint of defensiveness, as if to imply that it’s perfectly reasonable that you don’t have the answer to hand right now, and make sure to specify a clear date/timeline for your follow-up.
In pressure situations, people are looking to you for leadership first. This is less about knowing the solution, and more about driving the process and human dynamics that lead to it. Practice the responses in low-stakes scenarios so they become innate, and be sure to check out part 1 of this series (see link below). And remember: how you say it often carries more conviction than what you say.
In the first of a series of five brain circuits on effective communication for leaders, Robert Vilkelis provides techniques to help manage your nerves and deliver a high-impact presentation by focusing on...
Leaders who do not recognize their own blockers deny themselves the opportunity to think autonomously and self-critically. Consult the following checklist to gauge whether you are internally “blocked” and read on for...
July 22, 2025 • by Katharina Lange in Brain Circuits
Rather than choosing between crisis mode and future planning, leaders should learn to focus simultaneously on both short and long-term goals....
Practicing a speech is intimidating. Not only do you have to know your stuff, but you also have to think about your structure, your gestures, and your audience. Here’s how to use...
Explore first person business intelligence from top minds curated for a global executive audience