Hey Y'all, Most leaders think saving face is the move. It's not. I watched a team almost blow a $200K partnership because someone misread an email and nobody wanted to admit it. Pride kicked in, sides formed, and within 30 minutes they were ready to cut ties completely. Here's what actually happened: I paused the room and walked them through L.A.T.T.E. — my framework for when things get messy fast. Look at the actual problem. Not the drama, the facts. Anticipate where this goes if you do nothing. Then map two solutions for every risk. Think about what serves the long-term goal, even if it's uncomfortable right now. Talk it out. De-escalate and generate options together. Evaluate what worked so you can repeat it next time. |
One hour later? Partnership saved. $200K protected. And the team had a process they could use again. |
Why Your Brain Makes This Harder Than It Needs to BeWhen you feel even slightly threatened, your amygdala lights up and basically hijacks your prefrontal cortex. That's the part of your brain that handles analysis, impulse control, and long-term thinking. So in the moment when you most need to think clearly, your brain is working against you. The reset I use is stupid simple: ask yourself "Is this true?" and answer yes or no. That one question forces your brain back into deliberate mode instead of reactive mode. The Influence Part Nobody Talks AboutL.A.T.T.E. helps teams move together. But you also need to know how to influence up when you're the only voice in the room. Most people think they need a long story to build their case. You don't. Decision-makers want clarity tied to metrics. Here's the powerphrase structure I teach: • The decision to date is X. • If we proceed, we gain A and avoid B. • My recommendation is Y. • If approved, our milestone date is Z. |
Under 90 seconds. That's it. This format holds executive attention and makes your proposal easier to approve. I've watched people use this in budget meetings, project pivots, and hiring decisions. It works because it respects their time and gives them everything they need to say yes. Try This Tomorrow Before your next meeting, write down those four lines. Use them as your opener. Keep it under 90 seconds and watch how the room shifts. |
If you want the full breakdown of how to customize this for high-stakes conversations, I'm running Speak to Influence: Negotiation for Career-Leading Impact on Maven. It's three weeks, super practical, and you'll leave with tools you can use the very next day. No fluff. Just frameworks that work. | 