Speak from the Heart

Intro

Speaking from the heart is communicating with openness, curiosity, and respect. Many leaders call this “leading above the line” because you are more focused on learning versus being right. By calming your body first, sharing what happened without judgment or blame, naming how it felt for you, and making a clear ask, you are speaking from the heart.

Speaking from the heart is a skill that unlocks understanding and collaboration: your shoulders drop, breath steadies, voice softens, and the other person feels safe enough to open their heart and listen without the need to defend themself. This is where authentic connection lives that we all crave for.

Instructions

1. Think of a recent conversation that mattered. What happened?Describe the neutral facts in one or two lines. Add one feeling you noticed in yourself.
2. In that moment, did you feel calm enough to speak from the heart?Write a few lines on how it felt for you and any observed signs of connection or disconnection from the heart.
3. If you could replay it, how would you speak more from the heart?Reflect on adjustments you could make and the impact it might have had on the trust, clarity, or next steps after the conversation.
4. How will you practice speaking from the heart more?Reflect on the areas of your life you’d like to speak from the heart more often and next steps you are ready to commit to.