WednesdAMA: Reader-Submitted Questions
While it’s true we get to do a lot of cool work with various companies, it’s no secret that our individual coaching is considered the crown jewel of The Threadsmith Group. If we can make one person’s life better through the coaching we provide, the business is a success.
BUT, not everyone is able to make the investment to get 1:1 coaching, and we believe in giving back to the community. So welcome to WednesdAMA, in which we take a mix of reader submitted questions and LinkedIn questions and answer them.
LinkedIn: “Your team member is overwhelmed and struggling. How can you support them to meet their responsibilities?
“Once you've identified that a team member is overwhelmed, offer your assistance. Begin by helping them prioritize their tasks and break down larger projects into smaller, more manageable steps. Share strategies that have worked for you or others in managing workload effectively. Consider if there are any tasks that can be delegated or if deadlines can be adjusted without compromising the team's objectives. Your willingness to help and the practical support you provide can alleviate some of their immediate pressure.”
"Begin by helping them prioritize their tasks and break down larger projects into smaller, more manageable steps. Share strategies that have worked for you or others in managing workload effectively."
ABSOLUTELY NOT. If someone immediately steps in and is like "hErE's HoW tO pRiOrItIzE", I'm going to scream. Let me rewrite:
"Begin by discussing what can be delegated or moved entirely off their plate so they're not overwhelmed by the sheer amount of nonsense they have to do. Look at processes that can be improved around them to streamline their work. Remove roadblocks that actively make their jobs harder and more overwhelming."
These LinkedIn prompts are what inspired me to start the WednesdAMA, the advice they give is spectacularly bad and thoughtless toward how human beings actually operate and what their needs are.
Reader-Submitted: I want to advocate for myself at work, but I’m afraid of coming across as pushy. How do I make my case without burning bridges?
Start with this truth: advocating for yourself is not rude. It’s responsible.
Repeat that to yourself in the mirror until you believe it, because it’s true.
One of the best ways to self-advocate without creating tension is to frame your ask around impact. Instead of saying, "I deserve a raise," say something like, "Over the last six months, I’ve taken on X, Y, and Z, which led to [insert outcome or impact]. I’d love to talk about how my compensation could reflect those contributions."
When you focus on results, not just feelings, it doesn’t come off as pushy—it comes off as clear and thoughtful. You’re not demanding. You’re demonstrating. And that’s a critical distinction.
Also: practice what you plan on saying to your boss. Say it out loud. Rehearse it, get comfortable with it. And remind yourself that asking for what you need is part of being a professional, it just comes with the territory.
LinkedIn: You're struggling with stress at work. How can you create a culture that promotes self-care for everyone?
“Recognizing stress is the first step towards managing it effectively. You need to understand that stress is not a sign of weakness; it's a natural response to challenging situations. By acknowledging the presence of stress in the workplace, you can open up conversations about it. This can lead to a shared understanding that stress is a common experience, paving the way for a culture that encourages open dialogue and proactive stress management strategies.”
Acknowledge it, sure, but also discuss strategies for preventing it. "yes, we're all stressed" is a nice, brief boost of camaraderie, but you also need to focus on ways you can keep your team from getting stressed out in the first place.
One thing that REALLY helped my team in a previous job was a random mental health day. If you woke up one morning and just stared at the ceiling and you were like "noooope", you could take the day, no questions asked.
The only thing you HAD to do was take a picture of a fun thing you did that day and share it with the team. That was absolutely spectacular- it built camaraderie AND reminded people to take time for themselves. I wish more people would incorporate that. Perhaps you, dear reader, will.
Reader-Submitted: I just got promoted to a leadership role, but I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. Where do I start?
Welcome to the club!! Every leader—especially the good ones—has that moment of, "Wait, they put me in charge of what?", especially because SO many businesses are just like “hi congrats you’re a manager, have a nice day, good luck!”. They give you ZERO training on how to actually be effective in your role. That’s on them, but I can still offer a couple of quick tips.
Start by listening more than you talk. Seriously. Get to know your team, their challenges, their strengths, what they wish someone would fix. Schedule regular one-on-ones. Ask thoughtful questions. Don’t try to solve everything on day one, that way lies madness.
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating the kind of environment where people feel safe to bring you problems—and empowered enough to solve them.
Also: get a mentor, or a coach, or at the very least, a peer you can vent to. Leadership is lonely. You don’t have to do it alone. That’s entirely why I started the Threadsmith Group. :)
The Threadsmith Group Approach
At The Threadsmith Group, we don’t believe in cookie-cutter advice. We believe in real answers for real people, backed by experience, strategy, and a healthy dose of common sense.
Got a question of your own? Send it in. Let’s talk about the things that actually matter.