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A colleague responds to your idea by saying, “Sure, that’s interesting.” Were they interested? Just being polite? Or being dismissive? When you’re new to the Canadian workplace, a short reply, an unfamiliar tone, or an unanswered message can leave you wondering what actually happened.

And our minds are quick to fill in the blanks. The problem is that our first interpretation can start to feel like the truth. We become defensive, withdraw from the conversation, or respond to an intention that may not have been there.

One way to avoid all the drama and anxiety that come with these sorts of situations is to take a pause before the misunderstanding escalates into something worse. Even better if you have a framework you can use to work through what you experienced or thought happened.

John Edward McGraw’s 60-Second LEAP™ worksheet below, built on his proprietary LEAP™ framework, is great for these moments. It offers you a simple way to slow down, consider what else might be happening, and choose what to do next.

Download it, save it to your phone, and keep it nearby for the next workplace interaction that leaves you wondering, “What did they actually mean?”