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Morning friend! ☕️
We’re on episode 4 of 12 in the Scary Management Story series.
Last week, silence cost Thandi time.
This week, reassurance costs her credibility.
Because once the minutes go out, your words stop being comfort.
They become commitment.
Let’s chat.
Episode 4. Spending Credibility
By now, Thandi has been in the role long enough for questions to change shape.
Less “how’s it going?”
More “when will this land?”
The team has already absorbed a small slip. Nothing dramatic. A few days here. A dependency there. The kind of wobble that disappears if you don’t point at it too hard.
The next meeting is bigger.
More eyes.
Less patience.
A steering committee. Status updates. Then the question, asked neutrally.
The kind that sounds harmless and isn’t:
“Are we still on track?”
There’s a pause before Thandi answers.
She knows the honest version: mostly.
She also knows what happens if she says that out loud.
Scrutiny sharpens.
Attention sticks.
The room remembers.
She feels the old instinct surface.
The one that made her valuable before this role.
Smooth the edges.
Absorb the risk.
Keep things calm so the work can continue.
Across the table, someone’s already writing while she’s still thinking. Pen moving like the answer is supposed to be simple.
So she frames it.
Not a lie.
A reassurance.
“We’ve had a small speedbump, but we’re comfortable with the timeline. Mitigations are in place.”
Heads nod.
Pens keep moving.
The meeting does too.
From the outside, it looks like leadership.
On her way back to her desk, Thandi sees the summary email already out.
Still on track. Minor adjustments. No impact to date.
Her words.
Copied cleanly.
That’s when it lands.
She didn’t just update the room.
She committed. On behalf of a team that hasn’t settled yet.
Reassurance feels supportive, especially early on.
You want to protect the team.
You want to be seen as steady.
You don’t want to be the person who escalates every wobble.
Relief spreads. The risk stays.
That’s the quiet trade.
You don’t lose credibility when things go wrong.
You lose it when you spend it before the system can back you up.
The real question to ask yourself
When pressure moves upward, most managers ask:
“How do I protect my team right now?”
That instinct is human.
A more honest question is:
“What am I making true by how I’m framing this?”
Because the moment you reassure, you’re not just sharing information.
You’re staking your name on a future outcome.
Key takeaway
Credibility isn’t built through confidence.
It’s built through accuracy.
Reassurance feels kind in the moment,
until you’re held to it later.
That’s it for today’s episode friend,
Until next week! ☕
Vaugan
Today’s Chess Puzzle
Black to play and force mate.
Solution here
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Next week on scarymanagement.com!
The question isn’t loud.
It isn’t aggressive.
It’s calm. Controlled. Almost harmless.
“How confident are we?”
And Thandi realises something mid-breath:
They’re not asking for detail.
They’re asking what she’s willing to stand behind.
Next week: Ep5: When Confidence Is Questioned
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Disclaimer:
This post contains parody and satirical references to well-known characters, shows, and cultural icons. It is created for educational and humorous commentary on management and leadership. ScaryManagement is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any television networks, film studios, comic publishers, production companies, or performers referenced. All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their respective owners. No infringement is intended. This use is intended as parody and commentary under fair use and related protections in the US, UK, EU, and South African law.