Leadership Communication: A Pep Talk During Change
- Jun 13, 2020
- 5 min read
by Stephanie Bickel
How can leaders use a pep talk to help someone move forward during uncertainty or change?
A strong leadership pep talk reminds people of who they are, what they are capable of, and why their contribution matters. During periods of uncertainty, people can become overly focused on circumstances they cannot control. A leader's words can help redirect attention toward confidence, possibility, and action.
Years ago, I wrote the following letter to a dear client who needed encouragement during a challenging time.
Maybe you need a pep talk today.
Or maybe there is someone on your team who needs to hear one from you.
Who do you need to lift up?
Why Pep Talks Matter During Times of Change
Change can shrink people's thinking.
When circumstances feel uncertain, even high-performing people can begin to question themselves. They may become more cautious. They may focus on what could go wrong. They may lose sight of the strengths and experiences that helped them navigate challenges in the past.
Leaders need to recognize these moments.
A pep talk is not about pretending a difficult situation does not exist. It is about helping someone see themselves and the situation differently.
The right words can remind people of their strengths, reconnect them to purpose, and help them move toward action.
Here is the pep talk I shared with my client.
A Leadership Pep Talk for Times of Change
Don't forget who you are.
You are hard charging and high performing.
Circumstances cannot control and shrink you.
You have always grown from every challenge.
You will grow from this.
You have a mind and heart that can help so many.
You cannot hide it now.
You are needed more than ever.
Set an even bigger goal. Let it scare you a little.
Forget about what others will think.
Let them be who they are.
You control what you think and believe.
Spot those negative thoughts and rewrite them.
Believe things that make you feel confident and excited.
You love work.
You love the people.
You want to fight to solve problems.
You want to see progress now.
Plan a schedule and stick to it.
Picture it. Feel it. Smile into it.
Launch. Over and over again.
What Leaders Can Learn From This Pep Talk
There are four leadership communication lessons in this letter that remain important during any period of uncertainty or change.
1. Remind People Who They Are
The pep talk begins with four words:
Don't forget who you are.
When someone is struggling, leaders are often tempted to immediately offer advice or solve the problem.
Sometimes people need to be reminded of their own strengths first.
"You have always grown from every challenge" points the listener back to evidence from their own experience.
They have faced challenges before.
They have learned.
They have grown.
A leader can help someone reconnect with that evidence.
Before you tell people what to do next, remind them of what they have already proven they can do.
2. Redirect Attention Toward What They Can Control
During uncertainty, people naturally focus on circumstances.
What is changing?
What could happen?
What are other people thinking?
A leadership pep talk can redirect attention toward the thoughts, beliefs, and actions a person can control.
In the letter, I wrote:
You control what you think and believe.
Spot those negative thoughts and rewrite them.
Leaders cannot promise that every circumstance will improve immediately. They can help people focus their energy on the decisions and actions available to them now.
This is an important part of communicating confidence during change.
3. Connect Encouragement to Purpose
"You are needed more than ever."
That sentence moves the focus away from fear and toward contribution.
People communicate and perform differently when they remember why their work matters.
During periods of change, leaders need to reinforce purpose. Help people see the problems they can solve, the people they can help, and the progress they can create.
Encouragement becomes more powerful when it is connected to meaningful action.
4. End With Movement
A strong pep talk should move people forward.
The final lines of this letter become increasingly action-oriented:
Plan a schedule and stick to it.
Picture it. Feel it. Smile into it.
Launch. Over and over again.
The message does not end with "feel better."
It ends with action.
This is one of the most important principles of a leadership pep talk. Encouragement should create momentum.
When you deliver a pep talk, ask yourself: What do I want this person to think, feel, or do next?
Then make sure your words help them move in that direction.
Who Do You Need to Lift Up?
Leaders communicate during difficult moments every day.
A team member loses confidence.
A high performer becomes discouraged.
A colleague is navigating change.
An organization is facing uncertainty.
You do not always need a long speech or a perfectly prepared message.
Sometimes you need to remind someone who they are.
Think about the people you lead.
Who needs encouragement?
Who needs to reconnect with their strengths?
Who needs to hear that their work matters?
Who needs a push toward action?
Maybe you need a pep talk.
Or maybe you need to deliver one.
Who do you need to lift up?
Continue Improving Your Leadership Communication
Your voice is only one part of becoming a more impactful communicator. The strongest leaders know how to use their voice, structure their message, tell compelling stories, and communicate with confidence in high-stakes moments.
Continue your communication growth with these Speak by Design resources:
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Explore More Pep Talk Resources
If you'd like to continue developing your leadership communication skills, explore these related resources:
The Art of the Pep Talk: A Leader Communication That Inspires Learn how leaders use pep talks to encourage teams, strengthen confidence, and help people move forward.
5 Steps to Mastering the Pep Talk: Skills to Lead a Team Learn the complete five-step Speak by Design Pep Talk Framework for building confidence and inspiring action.
A Pep Talk on the Path to Going Public See how leaders prepare for high-stakes presentations, manage conflicting feedback, and strengthen the mindset needed to communicate with clarity and conviction.
