In preparing for this month’s blog post, I began asking people in my life the following question: What has been the greatest challenge for you since assuming your current role? As you can imagine, the answers varied widely. Some pointed to the challenge of clarifying their team’s vision, others to simply getting things checked off the to-do list. What struck me was not just the range of responses, but how many of these challenges were ones people never expected to face. That discovery alone would have made the effort worthwhile, because it opened my eyes to the many different shades of challenge facing my friends and colleagues every day.
But something else happened as I kept asking the question. People began to share openly about what they had tried, what had worked, what hadn’t, what they had learned, and in some cases what they hoped to try next. One leader even paused and said, “I honestly didn’t realize how much I’ve been carrying this around until you asked me.”
The truth is, I asked this question with one goal in mind: to discover a good leadership theme for this post. What I found instead was that I had been walking beside and working alongside people who not only wanted, but perhaps even needed, to be given space to reflect on their challenges.
Our workdays and home lives are full of responsibilities that demand our attention, and it is frighteningly easy to put up blinders to the struggles others are facing. But I was reminded of how powerful it can be to pause, look someone in the eye, and ask about what’s challenging them.
I’m left wondering: how can I be more intentional about noticing the struggles of my colleagues, neighbors, and family members?
To those of you who already make a practice of asking thoughtful questions and listening well, thank you. Keep at it. Your presence matters more than you know. And for the rest of us, still learning to pay closer attention and give our time, your example is both needed and deeply appreciated.
And if you think you might benefit from a listening ear, consider scheduling a coaching consultation. Send me an email at [email protected].
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