Let's Meet for Coffee

The Coach ordered her coffee twenty minutes ago.

And a slice of something worth waiting for. Reese will get here when Reese gets here. In the meantime there is good coffee, a decent view, and no reason to waste either.

Reese arrives. Settles in. Smooths things that don't need smoothing.

REESE

I'm so sorry to keep you waiting.

THE COACH

Relax. It's only been two minutes.

THE COACH

Tell me what's going on.

REESE

It's one of my direct reports. The work has been sloppy lately. Missing things. Not showing up when the team needs them. I've mentioned it a couple of times but I don't think it's landing.

THE COACH

What does "mentioned it" look like?

REESE

I've said something like... I've noticed things have been a little inconsistent lately. Just wanted to check in and see if everything is okay.

THE COACH

And what did they say?

REESE

That everything was fine.

THE COACH

And then?

REESE

And then... nothing changed.

☕

THE COACH

What have you done about it?

REESE

I've tried to cover where I can. Make sure things don't fall through the cracks.

THE COACH

How long have you been doing that?

REESE

Longer than I should have. Honestly it's just easier to do it myself than to have the conversation.

THE COACH

Easier for who?

THE COACH

Someone's irresponsibility doesn't disappear when you absorb it. It just becomes your responsibility. And they never have to grow because you keep removing the consequences of their choices.

REESE

I didn't think about it that way.

THE COACH

What do you actually need them to know?

REESE

That the work isn't good enough. That the team is covering for them. That if it doesn't change it's going to be a real problem.

THE COACH

Have you said that?

REESE

I didn't want to make things awkward. We used to be peers and I just...

THE COACH

You wanted them to like you.

. . .

THE COACH

The conversation you've been avoiding isn't protecting them. It's failing them. They don't know where they actually stand.

REESE

I was hoping it would fix itself.

THE COACH

It rarely does. And while you're waiting, someone else is paying the price.

☕

THE COACH

There's a difference between being unkind and being unclear. Being vague isn't gentleness. It's avoidance. And in the long run it costs the person more than the honest conversation ever would have.

REESE

I know. I just don't want to be the kind of leader who makes people feel small.

THE COACH

You won't. Not if you're honest and respectful. What makes people feel small is being managed around. Being kept in the dark about where they actually stand.

THE COACH

If you weren't worried about being liked, what would you actually say to them?

REESE

I'd say... I've noticed the quality of the work has slipped and it's really impacting the team. It's not fair to everyone else who's been picking up the slack. I don't think you realize how much. And I want to support you — I know you can do better than this.

THE COACH

That's it. Say that.

REESE

That's it?

THE COACH

That's it. You just said everything that needed to be said. Clearly. Respectfully. Without making anyone feel small.

THE COACH

Clear is kind, Reese. Unclear is not protection. It's just delayed disappointment with interest.

☕

REESE

Same time next week?

THE COACH

Same time next week.

She pushes the last bite of dessert across the table.

THE COACH

You look like you could use this more than I can.

☕

THIS EPISODE FEATURES:

Arwa Yemeni Coffee — TX

Arwa Yemeni Coffee began as a love letter to a culture and a history most people hadn't yet discovered. Founded by a family with deep roots in Yemen, every detail inside -- from the honeycomb floors, the farmer-hat light fixtures, and traditional Yemeni floor seating to the in-house roasted beans from Yemen -- was chosen with intention. It's not just a coffee shop. It's an invitation to experience something deep-rooted in culture, something warm, and something worth knowing.

© Anshu Prabha · LetsMeetForCoffee · linkedin.com/in/anshu-prabha07