The phrase, "Take all the time you need." is a relational game changer.

Once in a while, an event happens in the life of one of your team that demands their full attention. Final days of a loved one before they die, the birth of a child, taking the family pet to the Vet for the last time. These moments seem to come onto the radar without a lot of notice and often at what seems to be a bad time. But you only get one shot at these moments. You are either there or you aren't.

And yet, your team often feels guilt about missing work for these moments. They feel like they've let the team down and maybe like you privately somehow blame them for needing to go.

This is where you drop the magic phrase, "Take all the time you need." as you insist they drop everything and go be in the moment. It's magic because:

- This situation already has their full attention, and they are not focusing on work anyhow.
- Most people will not take advantage of your generosity.
- Your relaxed attitude will genuinely help them relax and be in the moment.
- They will never forget how you reacted in the moment and neither will their loved ones.
- It's just the right thing to do.

Yes, you should build in time off policies and plan ahead for what you can. But when a defining moment in a person's life shows up in the middle of an important board meeting, insist that they go be where they need to be and you'll never have to worry about how to promote your core value of loving your team well.