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speech-bubbleIt’s not always some big, flowery, masterfully delivered declaration that teams need to hear from their leaders. Often it’s the little things–small phrases or statements that can change the tone and feel of your workplace environment.

Teams and leaders who are embracing their humanness and therefore working toward building vulnerability-based trust will undoubtedly even sound different from teams and leaders who aren’t.

What might that sound like? Here are some things leaders should say more:

1. I was wrong.

2. You’re right.

3. I need your help.

4. Great job.

5. Thank you.

6. Of course I have time to talk. Come on in.

7. I’m sorry. That was my fault.

8. No worries. Happens to the best of us.

9. Let me connect you with So-and-So. He/She is uniquely gifted in [that area your teammate is interested in].

10. Help me see what I’m missing in this situation.

11. I’d like to take a quick second to recognize So-and-So for [insert cool thing–big or small–they’ve done here].

12. I’d love to know your thoughts.

13. You know what? I actually have no idea about that.

14. I know you can do it.

15. I know we can do it.

16. That’s definitely not a strength of mine.

17. I’m glad we have so many different opinions.

18. I’ve got your back.

19. No, the customer isn’t always right and doesn’t get to yell at you.

20. Yes, you’re the customer; but in this case I stand behind my employee and have to ask you to stop speaking to them that way.

What others can you think of?