MASTER Risk Model - Learning Resources - Abilities

Leadership

Watch your language in pitches—do you lead with certainty, curiosity, or doubt? What tone does it set?

Observe how your team responds to you—do they lean in, hold back, or wait for guidance?

Track who speaks and who stays quiet in team talks—what patterns are you reinforcing?

Notice your body language under pressure—are you modeling calm, clarity, or stress?

Monitor when you default to “doing” instead of “guiding”—what beliefs drive that?

Pay attention to how others lead when you step out—what culture does your leadership leave behind?

Collaboration

Observe who dominates in brainstorms—how balanced is input, and how do you encourage quieter voices?

Watch how peers build on each other’s ideas—what does constructive collaboration sound like in start-ups?

Track your impulse to interrupt or push—what does that reveal about your founder style?

Notice when trust builds in your team—what moments or actions spark confidence?

Observe how your team handles conflict—do they avoid, confront, or use it productively?

Pay attention to how credit is shared—what does it reveal about your team’s culture?

Communication

Watch how investors or peers react—confusion, nodding, silence—what signals do you often miss?

Track how many questions follow your pitch—do people need clarity or take action confidently?

Observe when people lose attention—was your message too long, vague, or misaligned?

Pay attention to tone and pacing in pitches—do they shift with stress or audience type?

Notice which pitch formats land best—deck, story, demo? Adapt to what resonates.

Watch someone who pitches clearly—what words, timing, and structure do they always use?

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