It could be the tone of voice. It could be an awkward phrase. It could be something we just didn’t want to hear. No matter what has taken place, we’ve all found ourselves in the middle of a broken conversation.

While your initial discomfort may make you want to retreat, it’s important to view a broken conversation as an opportunity to display leadership and demonstrate confidence, says MIT Sloane senior lecturer Daena Giardella. After all, by taking charge, it shows you care about the relationship and are committed to getting things back on track.

There are simple strategies that we can employ to bring a conversation back after a broken moment. In this MIT Sloan School of Management video, Giardella explains how using an improvisor’s mindset – specifically using “Yes, and,” instead of “Yes, but,” – can make all the difference in these situations.

To learn more, watch Repairing a Broken Conversation.