Behavior Practice
Behaviorally Speaking: Behavior Practice
Practice Saturday is a weekly space dedicated to turning leadership ideas into real-world action. Each Saturday, Dr. Esther Bubb takes a common workplace or leadership scenario and demonstrates what behavior looks like in practice, breaking down everyday interactions through the lens of behavior science, compassionate leadership, and practical decision-making.
From navigating difficult conversations and managing resistance to change to building accountability, strengthening teams, and improving communication, each feature walks through relatable situations that leaders, educators, clinicians, and professionals encounter every day. Rather than focusing on theory alone, Behavior Practice provides simple strategies, practical scripts, behavioral insights, and actionable steps that can be applied immediately.
Every edition follows a straightforward approach: identify the situation, understand the behavior behind it, explore why it happens, and practice a more effective response. The goal is to help readers bridge the gap between knowing what good leadership looks like and consistently demonstrating it through everyday actions.
As part of the Behaviorally Speaking Leadership Lab—a weekly leadership lab where change-makers learn, test, and apply behavior-based strategies for real-world impact—Behavior Practice transforms behavioral principles into practical leadership habits that build trust, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful change.
See the behavior. Practice the skill. Lead with intention.
Behavior Practice Saturday
lesson 3: Understood vs dismissed
🎬 When Someone Gets Emotional
Have you ever watched a productive conversation fall apart in just a few seconds? When someone becomes visibly upset, our instinct is often to say, "Calm down." But what if that response is actually making the conversation harder? People are more likely to regulate their emotions when they feel seen and understood than when they feel dismissed.
🛠️ Practice This:
Instead of saying, "Calm down," try: "I can see this conversation is frustrating. I appreciate you staying engaged. Let's work through the issue together." Acknowledging emotion isn't agreeing with it. It's creating the conditions for productive problem-solving.
💭 Reflection:
When emotions show up on your team, do people feel corrected or understood?
Leadership is behavior. And behavior tells a story.
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.”
Charlie Chaplin
Founding Launch Series Summer 2026
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