“Brilliant”

One of my long standing favorite words, “brilliant” takes on a new meaning in the realm of “the King/Queen’s English”. Using this word incorrectly immediately sounds off when you’re surrounded by the grammar guardians, and they’ll let you know when you’ve used it flatly. If you think their loaves of bread are large and flat, you’ve yet to test a Brit’s sense of humor around misuse of the English language.

“Give it a go”

Let’s try this one on, shall we? Taking turns is important when you teach leadership development, and don’t be fooled into thinking that we naturally mature to become kinder and more patient with age. That’s where this tiny and mighty phrase shines! Asking if someone would like to “give it a go” conjures up simple yet powerful mental imagery that often creates a sense of belonging and community where it’s okay to try our best. There is no emphasis on the outcome, only the activity of attempt.

“Actually”

Single-handedly the most power-packed word a peace-keeping perfectionist might wish to keep on their short list this year. If you are someone who prizes accuracy and dislikes conflict, “actually” may be just the word worth rediscovering. Technically, this 8 letter wonder word is a direct challenge to someone else’s reality, yet it’s also the most satisfying Twix moment when served, with or without tea and crumpets. It’s a kind and equitable way to directly disagree because it preserves agency of both the original speaker and the one finding themselves conflicted by what was said. Paired with a gently raised palm, this word will turn the spotlight on your voice without disagreement feeling unpredictable or worse, volatile.

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Language is not decoration; it is operating equipment. Words like “brilliant,” “give it a go,” and “actually” are small tools that quietly shape psychological safety, accuracy, and shared agency in a room. Used with care, they signal humor without cruelty, invitation without pressure, and disagreement without escalation. Leadership lives and dies in these micro-moments. The phrases we normalize become the behaviors we permit, and the behaviors we permit become the culture we inherit.

If we want braver rooms, we don’t start with grand speeches—we start with better word selection and intentional self-regulation. Choose language that leaves dignity intact, invites participation, and makes truth easier to approach. Give it a go. Be precise. Let “brilliant” mean something. And when reality needs a gentle nudge back on course, there is always that wonderfully disarming bridge: actually.