Manager asks: When is it most useful to talk with Em — before, during or after?

TL;DR:

  • Most effective before meetings — Em helps set language, goals and scenarios.
  • After a conflict, Em supports de-escalation, fact summary and concrete next steps.
  • During high tension use asynchronous formats (email/chat) or set a 'tomorrow conversation' trigger.

The best moment is before a meeting: Em helps you clarify objectives, pick words and foresee reactions, reducing improvisation and misunderstandings. After a conflict, Em lets you distance emotions, record facts and propose clear agreements to close the matter. In high-tension moments synchronous help is hard to manage, so use async drafts like emails or chat notes — Em can suggest neutral phrasing to lower the temperature. If immediate de-escalation is required, Em can quickly consolidate facts and recommend a safe next step. Using a simple "tomorrow conversation" trigger moves feelings into a planned action and gives both parties time to cool off. For managers, a short Em session before a 1:1 provides a clear plan and measurable expectations. With teams, Em also signals when a discussion should be postponed until it can be handled constructively. Em doesn't replace HR or therapy, but it eases their work by providing practical phrases and structure. Overall, use Em before and after meetings and asynchronously during crises, with "tomorrow conversation" as a calming mechanism.

In short: most value before and after conversations; during tension use async tools and set "tomorrow conversation" as a trigger.

Author: Empatyzer

Published:

Updated: