After more than two decades in corporate communications and leadership development , I’ve coached leaders at every level—from executives guiding large-scale change to managers navigating difficult one-on-one conversations. What separates effective leaders from exceptional ones isn’t what they say when things are going well—it’s how they communicate when things get hard. Whether it’s announcing a budget cut, realigning a team, or delivering feedback that stings, these moments

We’ve all been there. You give what you think is helpful feedback, and suddenly the room goes cold. Their face changes. The energy...