Today’s blog post is the first in a three-part series called The Power of the Pause Button where SOS Leadership Partner Amber Fogarty explores the art of thinking before we speak and why this is particularly important for those who lead.

Leaders need to be passionately obsessed with communication. It’s one of the keys to successful leadership. Over time I’ve become convinced that leaders have to learn the power of the pause button. What’s the pause button, you ask? It’s an internal button we all possess, and it gives us the time we need to think before we speak.

Think back to a time when your mouth got you in trouble. Maybe it was your quick wit or sharp temper. Perhaps someone said something hurtful to you, and your immediate response was one of retaliation. We’ve all been there, but some of us go there more than others. Ask yourself honestly: How would my leadership improve if I pushed my pause button more often?

If we’re honest with ourselves, most of us want to live a life with no regrets. Choosing our words more carefully will go a long way in helping us to avoid saying words we wish we could take back. After all, isn’t pushing your pause button far less painful than removing your foot from your mouth?

In the comments section, share your strategies for thinking before you speak. What “pause button” strategies work for you?

Come back next Wednesday and the following Wednesday to read the two remaining two posts in this three-part series!