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- Your team already knows. Just ask them!
Welcome to the Leader’s Lens: The Perspective Shift issue!
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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Above The Frame: Mid-Level Leadership Coaching!
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Through the Lens: The Question That Quietly Transforms Leadership
I shared this story on Tik Tok and Instagram! I would love to hear how this could help you in your end of year 1:1’s!
Just this week, during a routine 1:1 with a team member of mine, I asked a question I return to often. It is simple, but it cuts through hierarchy and opens a window into how my leadership is actually landing.
This particular team member previously served as a manager 10–15 years ago before transitioning into an individual contributor role. I deeply respect the way she thinks, leads, and operates.
So toward the end of our 1:1 time, I asked:
“If you were in my shoes, what would you want to see done differently to make your work easier or more effective?”
It is a small question, but it carries weight.
Why this question matters
Leaders often ask for feedback, but teams rarely feel safe enough to give it… at least not fully. This question lowers the pressure. It removes the formality and shifts the frame from “judge me” to “use your experience to help us.”
The moment I asked it, three things happened:
She gained permission to speak from her expertise.
Not about me personally, but about the work she knows deeply.I gained insight I would not have seen from my vantage point.
Leaders often operate with blind spots; this question fills them in.Trust was strengthened.
Not because I was perfect, but because I was willing to be imperfect in front of her.
Now I recognize that I have been working hard to build rapport with the team over the last 7 years by showing up, following through, and developing a sense of belonging for each team member. It makes it easy to ask this question because of that.
In fact, I remember asking a similar style of question early in my leadership and would either get crickets or lip service. Which is completely fine! It take time and effort to earn trust from someone to get their honest feedback.
However, that shouldn’t stop you, regardless of your tenure as a mid-level leader, to find ways to approach your team to hear how they would like to see leadership done differently.
Documenting leadership through someone else’s lens
As she shared her thoughts, I took notes. I wrote down what she believed would create more clarity, ease, and alignment. My posture was not defensive or performative, but with curious.
Her perspective helped me understand:
what success feels like from her seat,
what friction points exist that only show up at the ground level, and
where my leadership could better support her and the rest of the team.
In many ways, she helped me see the team more clearly than I had before.
This is a reminder for us all that our team already has this wisdom.
The question is whether you ask for it.
A leadership practice worth adopting
If you want a simple, repeatable practice that builds trust and sharpens your leadership, try this:
Ask each team member:
“If you were in my role, what would you do differently?”
Then really listen. Their answers will reveal:
what they value,
what they struggle with,
what they’re hoping for, and
what they need from you to thrive.
This is how you lead with your team, not just over them.
Your reflection for the week
What question could you ask this week that would help you see your leadership through someone else’s lens?
If you try this, let me know what response you get either by replying back or commenting on the social media posts!
Lead well!
— Ray
Whenever you are ready, here are ways you can work with me:
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P.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!
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