Which Voice Leads Your Tough Conversations?

Difficult conversations are a part of leadership—but how you navigate them says a lot about the inner voices running the show.

This Sow to Speak original quiz is designed for ambitious, human-centered leaders like you—leaders who care about their impact and want to communicate with more clarity, confidence, and presence in the moments that matter most.

Take this quick quiz to uncover which Personification Posse voice dominates your inner dialogue during high-stakes conversations—and, more importantly, how to shift into a more empowered, intentional response.

Are you driven by The Worrier’s anxiety, The Whipper’s judgment, The Warrior’s intensity, The Wizard’s ingenuity, or The Wise One’s steady confidence?

Let’s find out: Who’s really running the show when the stakes are high?

Instructions: Read each scenario and choose the response that best reflects your initial thoughts or actions in a difficult conversation. Don’t overthink it—go with your gut! At the end, you'll discover which of the five voices in your head is the loudest when navigating tough conversations.Each scenario includes responses that reflect the thought patterns or tendencies of The Worrier, The Whipper, The Warrior, The Wizard, and The Wise One—making this quiz a powerful self-awareness tool for leaders like you!

A team member keeps missing deadlines, and you need to address it. What’s your first thought? *

What if they get defensive? I don’t want to create conflict.

They need to take accountability—this is unacceptable!

I need to be firm and make sure they understand the stakes.

There’s probably a bigger issue here—how can I approach this creatively?

I’ll approach with curiosity, set clear expectations, and collaborate on a solution.

You need to give critical feedback to a peer who is also a friend. What do you do? *

Overthink every word and rehearse it a hundred times.

Just say it straight—tough love is better than sugarcoating.

Deliver it with confidence, making sure they know it’s for their growth.

Use a creative approach to help them see it from a new perspective.

I center myself first, trusting that clarity and honesty will serve us both, then approach the conversation with presence and care.

A colleague keeps interrupting you in meetings. What’s your internal dialogue? *

Maybe I’m not making my points clear enough? I should just shut up.

What a &%$! This is so rude. No wonder nobody likes them.

My voice has value here. I'm going to pushback and finish my complete thought.

How can I steer the conversation so they naturally make space for me to speak?

I’ll address it with them directly after the meeting in a way that keeps the relationship strong.

You need to say no to an additional project, but you don’t want to disappoint anyone. What’s your instinct? *

I’ll just take it on—I don’t want to look like a jerk who's not a team player.

They should know this is unrealistic. Why do they keep overloading me??

I’ll clearly and firmly say no without overexplaining.

Maybe I can propose an alternative that works for both of us?

I’ll check in with my priorities and communicate my limits thoughtfully.

You need to give tough feedback to your boss. What’s running through your mind? *

What if this backfires and I ruin my reputation?

They should already know they’re making mistakes. This is so frustrating and SO not my job!

I need to be strong and assertive—I can’t afford to hesitate.

How can I phrase this in a way that makes them more receptive?

I’ll focus on the bigger picture and share my perspective with honesty and respect.

You need to address negativity in a team member. How do you feel? *

Terrified! What if I stumble over my words and it makes things worse?

They need a wake-up call—this attitude is toxic!

I’ll approach this head-on and let them know how it’s affecting the team.

Maybe there’s a way to reframe their perspective so they shift naturally.

I trust my instincts, have an open conversation, and guide them toward greater self-awareness and accountability.

A difficult client is questioning your expertise. What’s your reaction? *

Panic internally and worry that maybe they’re right.

Feel irritated and think, "Who the heck do they think they are? They don’t respect my time or knowledge."

Stand my ground and make sure they see I know my stuff.

Find a way to get them on my side through influence and connection.

I listen with openness, trust my ability to course-correct, and allow the conversation to guide the next steps.

You’ve just realized you made a mistake that affects your whole team. What’s your next move? *

Gah—what if I lose credibility?!

I can’t believe I messed this up. That was so stupid.

I’ll fix it fast and make sure no one questions my leadership.

This is a learning opportunity—how can I turn this into something valuable?

I’ll own the mistake, communicate openly, and focus on solutions.

You’re leading a meeting, and no one is engaging with the discussion. How do you react? *

Worry that I’m not leading it well or that I didn’t prepare enough.

Internally roll my eyes and think, "Why do I have to drag them along?"

Call it out directly and push them to participate.

Find a creative way to shift the energy and spark engagement.

I bring my presence into the room, speak with calm authority, and guide the group back to a meaningful discussion.

You’re about to present to senior leadership, and nerves are creeping in. What do you tell yourself? *

What if I forget what to say and make it total fool of myself?

I have to be perfect or I’ll look unprepared.

I just need to power through and get it done.

How can I make this more engaging for them?

I’ve prepared well—I’ll focus on connecting with my audience.

A colleague takes credit for your idea in a meeting. How do you respond? *

Maybe I should just let it go—I don’t want conflict.

What a creep! That’s unacceptable. They do this all the time. I'm calling them out.

I’ll speak up and make sure my contribution is known.

I’ll bring it up in a way that keeps the focus on the bigger goal.

I pause, check in with my intuition, and then speak up with steady confidence, knowing my contribution matters.

A team member resists your feedback and pushes back. What’s your thought process? *

Did I approach this wrong? Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.

They’re being difficult. They just need to shut up and listen.

I need to be firm and make sure my feedback is taken seriously.

What’s making them resistant? Maybe I need to reframe my approach.

I take a moment to tune in, then respond with clarity, knowing I don’t need to prove my worth—just share my perspective.

You need to tell a high performer they’re not getting a promotion. What’s your approach? *

Dread the conversation and worry it will crush them.

Think, "They should have seen this coming."

Give them the straight facts and move on.

Help them see this as an opportunity for growth and reposition their mindset.

Be honest yet supportive, helping them understand next steps for success.

You receive an emotionally charged email from a client. What do you do? *

Overanalyze every word before responding.

Feel instantly annoyed and want to fire back a sharp reply.

Stay professional but make sure they know I won’t tolerate disrespect.

Take time to craft a response that de-escalates the situation and realigns us.

Acknowledge their frustration, respond thoughtfully with an offer to jump on Zoom or the phone.

Your boss dismisses your idea in a meeting. How do you react? *

Stay quiet and second-guess whether the idea was even good to begin with.

Get frustrated and mentally critique their leadership style.

Assertively push back with facts and data to defend your idea.

Find another way to bring the idea up later in a way they’ll be more receptive to.

Reflect on their reasoning and ask thoughtful follow-up questions.

You have to give bad news to your team about an upcoming change. What’s your mindset? *

Dread their reaction and worry about losing their trust.

Feel frustrated that leadership isn’t handling this better and blame them.

Deliver the news directly and tell them to adapt.

Frame it in a way that helps them see the bigger picture.

Communicate with empathy and make space for their concerns.

Someone on your team gets emotional during a tough conversation. What’s your first reaction? *

Oh no, this is getting uncomfortable. What if I make things worse?

They need to get it together. Emotions don’t belong here.

I have to keep this conversation on track—no distractions.

I hold space for them, trust that I’ll know the right thing to say, and guide them toward the next best step.

You’re mentoring a newer employee who lacks confidence in meetings. What’s your approach? *

I worry they’ll mess up, so I over-prepare them and reassure them constantly.

I push them to speak up immediately, believing they’ll get better by facing the pressure.

I encourage them to dive in, even if they’re unsure—it’s the best way to grow.

I help them reflect on past wins and trust their natural abilities to improve.

I trust they’ll find their voice with time and provide steady support.

Your leadership is starting to gain more visibility within and outside the organization. How do you manage this newfound attention? *

I worry about how I’m perceived and whether I look like I know what I'm doing.

I push myself harder, feeling I need to prove my worth constantly.

I take it in stride, confidently showcasing my leadership.

I use the visibility to inspire and elevate others, trusting the right opportunities will come.

I stay grounded in my values, trusting that authenticity will guide me.

You've been given the opportunity to speak at an upcoming conference in front of your industry peers. How do you approach the opportunity? *

I stress over every detail, fearing mistakes and judgment.

I think I deserve this spotlight, so I focus on making sure I impress everyone with my performance.

I prepare well and embrace the challenge, ready to showcase my strength.

I get excited about the creative possibilities, imagining how I can make my talk unique and inspiring.

I approach with calm, prepare until it feels right, trusting the right words will come from the heart.

Email *