“LET’S PUT A PIN IN THAT.”
Why “Let’s Put a Pin in That” Undermines Trust
On the surface, “let’s put a pin in that” sounds reasonable. It sounds efficient. It sounds like good meeting management.
Emotionally, it often does the opposite.
That phrase usually lands as dismissal. It stops momentum without explaining why. It defers responsibility while quietly telling the other person that where they were going does not matter right now.
In leadership, that moment matters more than we think.
When someone takes a conversation in a new direction, they are often following energy, concern, or courage. Shutting that down without explanation teaches people to stop bringing important things forward.
There are really only two honest reasons to pause a topic.
The first is discomfort.
“This topic makes me uncomfortable, and I am not ready to discuss it. If that changes, I will let you know.”
That sentence is vulnerable. It owns the hesitation instead of outsourcing it.
The second is respect for depth.
“This is important, and I want to give it the time it deserves. Can we come back to it after we finish this?”
That response honors the topic instead of shelving it.
Both approaches protect trust. Both create clarity. Neither leaves the other person feeling minimized.
Language shapes culture. Small phrases create big signals.
If you remove “let’s put a pin in that” from your vocabulary, you invite more honest conversations, stronger relationships, and better leadership moments.
Watch the video for a deeper breakdown of this shift. Share your thoughts in the comments. And if you are looking for a speaker who helps leaders build emotionally intelligent communication, I would love to talk.