I Have Some Questions...
What if leadership wasn’t about having the answers—but about asking better questions?
On "I Have Some Questions…", Erik Berglund – a founder, coach, and Speechcraft evangelist – dives into the conversations that high performers aren’t having enough. This isn’t your typical leadership podcast. It’s a tactical deep-dive into the soft skills that actually drive results: the hard-to-nail moments of accountability, the awkward feedback loops, and the language that turns good leaders into great ones.
Each week, Erik explores a question that has shaped his own journey. Expect raw, unpolished curiosity. Expect conversations with bold thinkers, rising leaders, and practitioners who are tired of recycled advice and ready to talk about what really works. Expect episodes that get under the hood of how real change happens: through what we say, how we say it, and how often we practice it.
This show is for driven managers, emerging execs, and anyone who knows that real growth comes from curiosity rather than charisma.
Subscribe if you’re ready to stop winging it and start leading with intention.
I Have Some Questions...
049: What If Every Excuse You’ve Ever Heard Was Just One of Four?
You’ve heard a thousand excuses—but what if there were really only four? In this sharp, tactical solo episode, Erik unpacks the universal patterns behind excuses and gives leaders a practical four-step play to move from frustration to clarity. With real-life examples and sharp reframes, this is your go-to guide for handling the conversations you’ve been avoiding. Get ready to ditch the dread, drop the debate, and redirect like a pro.
❓ The Big Question
What if the excuses you dread the most could be dismantled with one simple play?
💡 Key Takeaways
- There are only four types of excuses—once you see them, you can stop chasing your tail.
- Excuses are just pressure release attempts—bait designed to hijack the conversation.
- You can handle any excuse using a repeatable four-step play:
- Identify the excuse
- Avoid the bait
- Address the excuse
- Redirect with an open-ended question
- Avoiding the bait is critical—most excuses contain just enough truth to pull you off course.
- The real power move? Condition your team to realize excuses won’t get traction with you.
🧠 Concepts, Curves, and Frameworks
- The 4 Excuses:
- It’s not my fault
- I didn’t know
- I’m on it now
- That’s not normal
- The 4-Step Play:
- Identify which excuse is in play
- Avoid the bait (don’t get hooked!)
- Address the excuse with truth
- Redirect with an open-ended question
- Redirection Language: Use open-ended questions starting with who, what, when, where, how to shift the conversation productively.
🔁 Real-Life Reflections
- Erik shares how he accidentally discovered the four excuses after hearing the same patterns across industries—from engineers to healthcare workers.
- He reflects on being steamrolled as a young sales leader by “verbal ninjas” and how that pain became the pattern.
- Talks directly to leaders who’ve avoided conversations out of fear of hearing the same excuse for the hundredth time.
- He reminds us: once you stop being afraid of the excuse, your whole posture changes.
- Offers a practical challenge: think of that one person on your team who always makes excuses. Which one of the four do they use? Now get ready.
🧰 Put This Into Practice
- Write down the name of the person who makes the most excuses in your world.
- Identify their go-to excuse using the four types.
- Script out your redirect in advance using an open-ended question.
- Practice your tone: firm but empathetic, curious but grounded.
- Review this before your next tough convo—and watch how fast things shift.
🗣️ Favorite Quotes
“Excuses are bait. If they can hook you, they hijack the conversation.”
“It might not be your fault—but it is your responsibility.”
“You’ll never win a debate trying to prove what’s in someone’s brain. Don’t take the bait.”
“When you stop being afraid of excuses, they lose their power.”
“You’re not just managing performance—you’re conditioning culture.”