If you’ve ever been in a conversation where someone starts crying, shuts down, or lashes out—and you weren’t sure what to do—this episode is for you. Elena offers guidance on how to respond when a team member breaks down emotionally during a conversation. Whether you’re met with tears, silence, or anger, you’ll walk away with a grounded strategy for navigating intense moments with presence and care.

Keep learning: 

Support the show:

Reflection questions: 

  • What emotions or reactions come up for you when someone becomes overwhelmed during a conversation?
  • How might you prepare yourself—emotionally and somatically—for moments like these?
  • What’s one line or phrase you can practice now to use in those moments of breakdown?

Podcast Transcript and Use:

Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright to all content and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not distribute or commercially exploit the content without our express written permission.

We welcome you to download and share the podcast with others for personal use; please acknowledge The Bright Morning Podcast as the source of the material.

More Podcasts

View All Podcasts

Feel Better: Reflect on Last Year: Episode 54

E

54

00:08:15

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Listen

Feel Better: Have Your Emotions to Tea: Episode 53

E

53

00:12:34

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Listen

Feel Better Step 2: Explore: Episode 52

E

52

00:38:03

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Listen

Feel Better: Resilience Infusion: Energy Check-In: Episode 51

E

51

00:11:00

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Listen

Feel Better: How Do You Want to Feel?: Episode 50

E

50

00:07:37

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Listen

Feel Better: Name Those Feelings: Episode 49

E

49

00:10:05

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Listen

Feel Better: How am I feeling?: Episode 48

E

48

00:08:07

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Listen

Feel Better Step 1: Look: Episode 47

E

47

00:36:27

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Listen

Bright Morning Blog

View All Blogs