how to pep talk

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onto today’s topic: how to pep talk 🎙️ 

sometimes what an upset friend needs isn’t advice or a solution, but instead reassurance and encouragement that everything will be just fine.

reiterating that, however, isn’t the recipe for an effective pep talk.

the skill of moving people emotionally with your words is powerful and crucial in both your personal and professional life. the same way you motivate your friends, the teams you manage will also need that same motivation to continue pushing towards their goals.

the root of a good pep talk is empathy. you need to speak from the perspective of the struggle they just shared with you and truly understand. that’s not something that can be faked or formulated. once you’ve really heard the other party out, it’s your turn to dismantle fear and instill hope. 🌅 

i’m not going to template out a pep talk script, because i don’t think such a uniquely-human emotional experience could ever take a one-size-fits-all approach, but there are definitely different components you should keep in mind when trying to uplift others.

each person receives a pep talk differently. some people appreciate tough love, while others ideally want someone to make their worries feel minuscule. it’s hard to zoom out by ourselves sometimes, so having someone else paint that larger picture for them is a huge relief.

a pep talk isn’t just cheering and getting people hyped. it’s, at its core, getting rid of the clouds of doubt, so the rays of hope have space to shine through. (:

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