Welcome to the Leader’s Lens!

This issue offers a fresh perspective and actionable tips to enhance your leadership this week.

Send me an email and let me know how you plan on implementing this perspective shift in your leadership!

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Over on YouTube, I have been crafting more bite-size leadership series titled Leading from the Middle.

Leadership is often discussed from the top or the beginning. But many leaders are living in the middle such as holding responsibility, managing pressure, developing others, and still trying to grow themselves in real time.

I created this playlist to name some of those tensions clearly and practically.

If you have ever felt the weight of leading while still figuring things out, these short episodes are for you.

Watch the full playlist here!

Belonging is often talked about as a big cultural outcome. But in practice, it usually begins leadership asking better questions.

I recently had a conversation with a community leader focusing on equity and belonging work. She reframed the concept of “equity” by asking a simple question:

What do you need?

This is very different. Counterintuitive to how most of us think about organizational and community change.

I know for me, I often go to asking:

While those are not bad questions, they position me as the person of authority with the answers to their problem. But, through reflection, that posture places me as the savior. At very least, an overly supportive helper.

Instead, she posed a different question:

What do you need to feel supported, seen, and able to participate fully?

That question matters because leaders often move too quickly from observation to solution.

I know we are good at see a gap.
We have a keen sense of feeling the frustration.
We can observe the disconnect.
We witness the disengagement.

Then we rush to fix it.

However what if belonging is not built by rushing to fix people, but by slowing down enough to understand people?

A belonging-centered leader does not assume the need, just create enough trust for the need to be named.

This is where mid-level leaders in our position can make inclusive leadership becomes practical.

When you ask, “What do you need?” you shift from ego to empathy. You stop making yourself the center of the solution.

Instead, the person’s experience the starting point of the work.

And for the team culture we are building, this posture matters for engagement and belonging.

Honestly, this matter for any culture or community you look to build. It matters in community work.

We are working with smart people who often have the answers to the questions they seek. Our role is to help provide access to the room, create awareness of what is available, advocate for them when barriers exist toward their success, take actions that respond to real needs, amply their voice so it doesn’t disappear after the conversation.

So this week, be like me and not overcomplicate belonging.

Let’s start with one question:

What do you need?

Then listen long enough for the real answer.

Reflection:
Where am I currently assuming someone’s need instead of asking them directly?

Action:
Ask one person on your team, in your community, or in your circle: “What do you need right now to feel supported and able to move forward?”

Consistency is one of the quiet traits that often determines whether leadership builds trust or creates uncertainty.

Most leaders know what they want to improve.
The challenge is staying disciplined enough for that growth to become visible over time.

Now that we are a quarter of the way through 2026, this is a good moment to pause and ask:

Where has your leadership been consistent and where has it drifted?

Take a moment to reflect, then vote in the poll on the area where you most want greater consistency.

Let’s learn from each other and continue growing into the kind of leadership our teams need.

Continue to lead well!

— Ray

Whenever you are ready, here are ways you can work with me:

P.S. - Thank you to those who have filled out the survey letting me know more about your leadership journey! I am excited to dive into the results over the next couple of weeks to provide you with resources and content that will support your leadership! If you haven’t filled it out yet, do so by clicking the link here!