This is the first installment in a series of 18 articles I wrote for Entrepreneur.com. The series covers leadership, coaching, hiring, and the lessons I’ve learned building FutureFund.

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Ever walk into your boss’s office to vent and walk out with an action plan you never asked for? Yeah, me too.

That frustration led me to develop a three-mode framework for talking to people in authority. Before you start a conversation, name what you need: Mode One (just listen), Mode Two (listen and advise), or Mode Three (listen and act). It’s a small shift that prevents a shocking number of miscommunications.

Mode One is for processing out loud. Mode Two is for getting a sounding board without handing over the wheel. Mode Three is your emergency brake — when the situation genuinely exceeds your capacity and you need someone to step in.

The trick is knowing which mode you’re in before you open your mouth.

Read the full article on Entrepreneur.com

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Next up: Be a Coach, Not a Referee