— The Email That Backfired (Expanded Narrative) Background: BrightWave Marketing, a mid sized firm, was preparing for a major client pitch. The team had been working long hours, and tensions were high. The project manager, Lisa, wanted to motivate her team and sent out an email late at night. Incident: Lisa’s email read: “We need to push harder. The client expects excellence. I don’t want excuses—just results.” Her intention was to inspire urgency, but the tone came across as harsh and dismissive.