Feeling overwhelmed in a new leadership role? You’re not alone.
Let’s be honest, stepping into a leadership role for the first time can feel like drinking from a fire hose. There’s the pressure to perform, the scramble to build trust, and the very real challenge of looking composed when you’re secretly Googling “how to run a team meeting” at 11pm.
How you communicate in those tricky moments can either crank up the stress or help you take back control. Through leadership coaching and a bit of deliberate practice, we’ve seen new leaders transform the way they show up, simply by changing the words they use. Thoughtful language is one of the most underrated tools in your leadership development toolkit. It helps you manage challenges, sharpen your leadership skills, and start developing effective teams from day one.
So, what should you actually say when the pressure’s on? Here are five phrases worth keeping in your back pocket:
“Let me think on that and get back to you.”
Instead of “I don’t know the answer.”
You’re not expected to have every answer on the spot (and spoiler alert, nobody does). This phrase shows thoughtfulness and signals that you’d rather give a considered response than blurt out something half-baked. It’s a small shift that makes a big difference, and it’s exactly what effective leadership looks like: knowing when to pause before jumping in.
“Can we revisit this later when I can give it my full attention?”
Instead of “I can’t handle this right now.”
We’ve all been in that meeting where someone drops a curveball and every part of you wants to say “not now.” This version communicates that you genuinely value the issue, you just need to prioritise. It also shows solid time management, which is a critical leadership skill when you’re focused on developing high-performing teams.
Thoughtful language is one of the most underrated tools in your leadership development toolkit. It helps you manage challenges, sharpen your leadership skills, and start developing effective teams from day one.
“I’m at capacity right now, but I can revisit this on [specific date or time].”
Instead of “I’m too busy.”
Let’s normalise this one. Leaders face competing demands every single day, and pretending you can do it all helps no one. This response is honest while showing you’re ready to jump in when you can actually do it justice. It keeps your credibility intact and manages expectations, and that’s the foundation of real trust in any business leadership role.
“What adjustments can we make to improve this process?”
Instead of “This isn’t working.”
This one’s a game-changer. Instead of shutting down the conversation, it opens it right up. You’re turning frustration into collaborative problem-solving and inviting your team to think creatively alongside you. That’s leadership coaching in action, and it’s one of the most effective approaches you’ll pick up through leadership development.
“Can you walk me through the challenges? Let’s identify where I can support.”
Instead of “Why is this taking so long?”
This one builds trust fast. Rather than placing blame (which, let’s face it, feels terrible on the receiving end), you’re showing your team that you’re there to remove roadblocks, not create them. It’s the kind of language that lays the foundation for developing effective teams and a genuinely healthy workplace culture.
Effective leadership isn’t about always having the right answers. It’s about how you navigate challenges and communicate with the people around you.
Here’s the thing: effective leadership isn’t about always having the right answers. It’s about how you navigate challenges and communicate with the people around you. These phrases won’t make the tough days disappear, but they’ll help you show up with calmness, clarity, and collaboration. And that’s what sets great leaders apart from good managers.
Ready to Build Your Leadership Confidence?
These phrases are just the beginning. In our StepAdvantage™ Foundations leadership development training program, we work with new and emerging leaders to build the communication skills, self-awareness, and confidence they need to lead well from day one. We give you practical leadership coaching and real-world tools so you can actually tackle the challenges of leadership and management, not just the theory.
Get in touch to find out how we can support your team’s leadership development journey. We’d love to help you bloom.
