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

Combat Overwhelm with a Focal Student: Episode 231

E

231

00:10:01

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

Using Student Surveys to Build Trust and Close Gaps: Episode 230

E

230

00:13:13

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

Taking a Confrontational Stance: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 229

E

229

00:18:03

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

Assessing Trust In Your Coaching Relationships: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 228

E

228

00:21:05

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

Normalizing Struggles with the Conscious Competence Ladder: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 227

E

227

00:21:40

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

The Final Coaching Conversation of the Calendar Year: Episode 226

E

226

00:25:02

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

How to Know What Your Clients Think About Your Coaching: Episode 225

E

225

00:17:23

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

Navigating Confidentiality in Coaching: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 224

E

224

00:23:21

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