I worked for a manager who loved to throw around what felt like buzz words.

“We need to be resilient.”

“You need to be tenacious in the face of problems.”

Seriously?!?

The people you lead aren’t looking for a pep talk laced with catchphrases and buzzwords.

They’re looking for your leadership and support when they’re facing problems or feeling overwhelmed.

Catchphrases and buzzwords are often a sign that a leader’s uncomfortable with the problems in front of them. They’re trying to make everyone feel better, which is different than solving the problems.

The next time you feel like throwing out one of those catchphrases, stop yourself and ask a powerful question instead. Or, simply ask, “How can I help?”

People will appreciate your leadership as they will feel more supported while working through the problems.

You’ve got this.