The Executive Guide to Saying “Let’s Circle Back”

Some phrases close a sale. Others inspire a team. “Let’s circle back” does something far more valuable: it ends a conversation while preserving the appearance that you intend to continue it.

The phrase is suitable for nearly every executive situation. You have not read the document. You have read the document and regret it. Someone has asked a question containing the word “accountability”. In each case, a circle is available.

Master the delivery

Say it slowly, with the expression of a person protecting a valuable discussion from an inadequate moment. Nod once. Begin closing your notebook. The notebook is essential even if it contains only the Wi-Fi password.

Never say “I don’t know” when you could say “Let’s circle back once we’ve socialised the thinking”. The former describes a gap in your knowledge. The latter creates a task for someone else.

Choose your circle

The small circle is next week. The medium circle is next quarter. The strategic circle occurs after a reorganisation, when the person who asked the original question will ideally report to somebody else.

Avoid dates wherever possible. “Once things settle down” is an excellent timeframe in an organisation that considers settling down a sign of underperformance.

Handle persistent colleagues

Occasionally, somebody will actually circle back. This is poor cultural fit, but it must be handled sensitively. Thank them for keeping the issue warm, then explain that the context has shifted. Ask them to refresh the original proposal to reflect the new context.

There need not be a new context. The passage of time is a context. So is a recently appointed director with a different preferred slide template.

Close the loop

If cornered, escalate from circling back to closing the loop. This suggests completion while remaining admirably silent on whether anything has happened. Record the item as discussed, which is accurate, and remove it from the agenda, which is useful.

Remember: the objective is not to avoid decisions. It is to maintain a healthy distance from the moment at which a decision might become yours.