Robert, this really made me think. The gap between our intentions and our impact is one of the hardest realities of leadership to see on our own. I especially like your point that teams observe patterns, not isolated moments. They remember how leaders respond under pressure, where attention consistently goes, and whether actions align with stated values. That perspective is difficult to gain without inviting honest feedback. Leadership growth begins when we're willing to replace the story we tell ourselves with the experience others have of leading alongside us.
Having gone through a similar process during my own coaching training, I received similar observations from my team and other leadership stakeholders, whose feedback reflected perspectives I couldn't see for myself.
It has been one of the most enriching and humbling experiences of my journey as a manager, leader, HR professional, and coach.
At times, we need to see ourselves through the lenses of those who work with us closely every day. They often notice what lies outside our own field of view, offering perspectives we simply cannot access on our own. Great read!
Robert, this really made me think. The gap between our intentions and our impact is one of the hardest realities of leadership to see on our own. I especially like your point that teams observe patterns, not isolated moments. They remember how leaders respond under pressure, where attention consistently goes, and whether actions align with stated values. That perspective is difficult to gain without inviting honest feedback. Leadership growth begins when we're willing to replace the story we tell ourselves with the experience others have of leading alongside us.
Glad it landed for you.
The story I tell myself can be very convincing.
The team’s experience is usually the cleaner read, especially under pressure.
💯
Thank You! 😊💜
Having gone through a similar process during my own coaching training, I received similar observations from my team and other leadership stakeholders, whose feedback reflected perspectives I couldn't see for myself.
It has been one of the most enriching and humbling experiences of my journey as a manager, leader, HR professional, and coach.
At times, we need to see ourselves through the lenses of those who work with us closely every day. They often notice what lies outside our own field of view, offering perspectives we simply cannot access on our own. Great read!
You lived this from several sides, and that matters.
Being willing to hear what your team and peers could see, especially when you could not, takes more humility than most people realize.