The Leader Who Didn’t Send the Email

This is the Minute Business Riff (MBR). Quick takes. Big swings. Leadership riffs you can read in less time than it takes to scroll LinkedIn aimlessly.

One minute. One idea. That’s it.

Today’s word count: 267

It took me 59s to read this.

A VP once told me about the hardest email he never sent.

His team had just missed a major milestone - big one. Revenue shortfall. Missed deadlines. The whole thing was a mess.

He was pissed.

So he opened his laptop and started typing.

It was fire and fury. Disappointment. Urgency. Some subtle finger-pointing.

He hit save - but didn’t send.

Came back 30 minutes later. Edited it. Still felt off.

Tried again later that night. Same thing.

Five versions. Five rewrites. Still no send.

So he did something most leaders don’t:

He closed the laptop and went to bed.

The next morning, he made coffee, sat down, and wrote something completely different.

It was still honest. Still direct.

But this time, it was built to move the team forward - not punish them for falling behind.

It simply said:

“We missed. Here’s why. Here’s how we fix it - together.”

No shaming. No dramatics. Just clarity and ownership.

And guess what?

The team didn’t spiral. They rallied.

Because leadership isn’t about reacting fast.

It’s about responding right.

Anyone can fire off an angry Slack.

It takes real control to write the emotional version… and have the discipline not to send it.

Tactical Takeaway:

Write the email you want to send - then don’t send it.

Walk away. Sleep on it.

Then come back and write the one your team actually needs.

Be clear, not cruel. Be firm, not frantic.

You don’t need to soften the truth.

Just strip the emotion off it.

That’s how you lead with clarity - not collateral damage.

Think this was a banger? Think I’m full of it?

Either way, hit reply and drop some truth bombs.

I read every email 😁

Great leaders are made in minutes. Not meetings.