The reflection every leader needs before the year ends. What if you never know?

Reader,

In the busyness of year-end, it’s easy to sprint toward the finish line and crash headlong into the holidays. But if next year matters—and you know you want to be a better leader—you can’t afford not to reflect.

And reflection doesn’t have to mean hours of deep work. Sometimes, all it takes is the courage to ask the tough questions.

“I kept waiting for you…”

Years ago, I had a team member I struggled to lead. I always felt like he was frustrated with me. Like we kept missing each other, never quite on the same page. It wasn’t a surprise when we both felt ready for him to move on.

In our final conversation, I asked, “Would you be willing to share one thing I need to know to be a better leader?”

He paused, his brow furrowed, and then said quietly:
“I kept waiting for you. I just wanted you to lead, Sara. But you didn’t.”

Oof. That one stayed with me.

What I learned from reflecting.

At that point, I’d been focused on improving my leadership for years. I thought I was doing well. But when I reflected on his feedback, I realized:

I’d been holding back, assuming he wouldn’t want to follow me because I was younger. I was inwardly focused: doubting, worrying, second-guessing. I’d stopped truly seeing my team, convinced there wasn’t time. And without a vision for the kind of team I wanted to build, I didn’t build one at all.

If I hadn’t asked the question (and listened) I might still be that same leader today.

Because I need others to help me see myself clearly.
And so do you.

Where do you find perspective?

Do you have peers who will tell you honestly how they experience you as a leader?
A mentor who helps you see farther than you can on your own?
A team that trusts you enough to offer real feedback?

Would you dare to ask, “What’s one thing I need to know to be a better leader?”

It’s all information.

When feedback stings, can you embrace it as information to help you grow? Because what’s worse than hearing hard truth is never hearing it at all.

Amid all the busyness this season brings, I hope you’ll make time to reflect.

And in the coming weeks, I can’t wait to share something new I’m launching...to offer you, and the rising leaders on your team, the perspective you need to become the best leader you can possibly be.