“Are you Serious?”

It happened during a team meeting not long ago.

Someone made a comment — one of those offhand remarks that landed just wrong. You know the kind. It wasn’t overtly cruel, but it carried a tone, a jab, something that made me pause.

For a split second, I had that familiar thought: “Are you serious right now?”

My brain scrambled to catch up. I replayed the words in my head, trying to decide if I’d heard correctly, if I was overreacting, or if this really was as tone-deaf as it seemed.

And then came the crossroads — that moment between reacting and responding.

I could have called it out immediately, sharp and defensive. I could have shut down and said nothing. But neither option would have reflected the leader I want to be, or the values I try to model.

So instead, I took a breath. Literally. One deep inhale that gave my brain a chance to re-engage before my emotions took over.

That breath changed everything.

It gave me the clarity to choose my response, to stay grounded, and to handle the situation with curiosity instead of frustration.

The P.A.U.S.E. Method

It’s something called the P.A.U.S.E. Method, and it’s become a simple but powerful tool for me and my clients when those “Are you serious?” moments arise.

P – Pause
Take a breath. Give yourself a moment before doing or saying anything.

A – Assess
Check in with yourself. Why is this moment striking a nerve? What’s being triggered?

U – Understand
Seek clarity before assuming intent. Ask questions.

S – Share
Share your perspective calmly and clearly. You can be direct without being defensive.

E – Engage
Move forward in a way that aligns with your values and boundaries.

We all have “Are you serious?” moments — at work, at home, in relationships. They test our patience and our self-awareness.

But when you slow down long enough to pause, reflect, and respond with intention, you turn potential conflict into connection — and you walk away knowing you stayed true to yourself.

Wishing you the best as you take your next steps toward having a Professional Edge.