What happens when diplomacy becomes avoidance and truth-telling becomes backlash? In this raw solo episode, Dr. Mira Brancu shares two very real, very different stories that led her to rethink how—and when—we speak up. If you've ever struggled to find the right words at the right time (or said nothing at all), this one’s for you.

In this candid and timely episode, Dr. Mira Brancu explores the complex dance between truth-telling and diplomacy in leadership and team dynamics. Prompted by a last-minute guest cancellation—and an emergency surgery of her own—Mira contrasts two real-life situations that raise important questions about responsibility, trust, and communication. She reflects on her personal journey from being celebrated for diplomacy to realizing its limits when it comes to confronting dysfunction. Drawing on research, client stories, and her own leadership path, Mira offers a framework for knowing when and how to speak up, including practical tools, reflection prompts, and sentence starters for navigating hard conversations without causing harm—or staying silent. Whether you lead teams or work within one, this episode helps you build the courage and skill to surface truth with clarity, care, and impact.

Dr. Mira Brancu, host of The Hard Skills, is a consulting and coaching psychologist who specializes in leadership identity development and building adaptive, high-performing teams. She is also an Associate Professor at Duke University, author of the Millennials Guide to Workplace Politics and companion workbook, and a Psychology Today columnist. Some of her specialties include working with leadership “misfits,” politics, upheaval, and transitions. Her award-winning social impact firm, Towerscope, empowers and elevates leaders and teams within disrupted and complex learning and innovation industries.

www.gotowerscope.com

#TruthTellingWithCare #DiplomaticLeadership #SpeakUpSkillfully #LeadershipDevelopment #TheHardSkills

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