A Quite Moment…

I recently went on a silent retreat. If you’ve never experienced one, I highly recommend it. The quiet gave me the space to think more clearly, reflect more deeply, and disconnect from the constant noise of day-to-day life.

During my time there, I read a short book called Ephesians. It’s actually a letter written by a man named Paul to a group of people, full of thoughtful insight and practical wisdom about how to live and lead.

One message from the letter stuck with me: let your words be good, helpful, and encouraging to the people around you.

That landed hard. Because isn’t that the standard we should all be holding ourselves to? Especially those of us in leadership.

I tell my coaching clients this all the time: you do not get to outwardly have a bad day at your team. You don’t get to speak harshly just because you’re frustrated. You don’t get to lash out and then excuse it because of stress or pressure.

All words are words of encouragement. No exceptions.

That doesn’t mean we avoid hard conversations or lower expectations. It means we hold ourselves to a higher standard of communication; one that’s clear, kind, and respectful…at all times.

The letter also encouraged readers to get rid of bitterness, harshness, and anger. And I couldn’t agree more.

Every time you speak, you’re either building trust or tearing it down. You’re either reinforcing your culture or unraveling it. Even the rare slip-up, one moment of anger or sarcasm, can shift how your team sees you.

So here’s the question I’ve been asking myself, and I encourage you to ask it too:

Am I speaking life into my team, or am I slowly cutting into their confidence?

Leaders are culture-setters, whether we like it or not. And how we speak shapes the culture more than anything else.

If this hits close to home and you want to talk through how to reset your tone, build team trust, or grow your leadership voice, I’d love to help.

With you in the growth