Don’t Know the Answer? Here’s How to Sound Like a Leader

December 15, 2025

Have you ever been put on the spot in a meeting and asked for a decision you were not prepared to make?

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Episode Summary

Have you ever been put on the spot in a meeting and asked for a decision you were not prepared to make? In this Encore episode, I walk you through why these moments can feel so uncomfortable and the exact language you can use to stay confident and credible even when you need more time to think.

You will learn how to buy yourself time without losing authority, how to make a strong recommendation with incomplete information, and how to strengthen the decisiveness that senior leaders are known for.

If you want support applying this in your own role, send me a DM and we can talk about what it could look like to work together.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

  • The three reasons we struggle with on the spot decisions and how to identify your own pattern
  • Why the leaders who seem great at thinking on their feet have actually prepared in advance
  • Phrases you can use to sound confident while asking for more time or making a preliminary recommendation
If this episode resonated with you, share it with another woman who would benefit from these tools. The more we support each other, the more women we get into senior leadership.

 

…LET’S CONTINUE THE CONVO!

Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there’s room for all of us at the table.

Hi, I’m Katy McFee
A former VP and EVP who knows how hard it is to break into executive leadership. After years of feeling stuck, I figured it out and now, as a certified executive coach, I help other women do the same. I’ve supported hundreds in landing the promotions they deserve with strategies that make success achievable, without the years of trial and error.