"I Am Katie"
In nearly every one of my speeches, I tell a story about Katie. When I was a professor, a student named Katie approached me after a lecture. Despite feeling that I'd delivered the lecture of a lifetime, Katie pointed out everything I had done wrong. Her feedback bruised my ego and made me react defensively, but afterward, it also made me realize the importance of genuinely listening to others.
Embracing the Courage to Speak Up
When I tell this story, I often have several people come up afterward and say "I am Katie". In other words, they've been in Katie's shoes, sometimes with positive and sometimes negative results. Katie's willingness to share her thoughts despite the power imbalance showed remarkable courage. As her professor, I would be giving her a grade in a few weeks, yet she risked backlash to help me grow. This experience taught me to value criticism as a sign of care and investment in my development. By actively listening and engaging, I could foster an environment where people felt safe to tell me the hard truth without fear.
Takeaways for Inclusive Leadership
Encourage Open Feedback: Create an environment where feedback is welcomed and valued, no matter who it comes from.
Check Your Ego: Recognize that being open to criticism is crucial for personal and professional growth.
Appreciate Courage: Understand the bravery it takes for someone to give honest feedback, especially when there’s a power imbalance.
Lesson Learned: Zip It
As leaders we have to shut up, or our most talented team members will shut down. It's as simple as that. Shut up so they don't shut down.
P.S.
If you’ve ever been Katie or had a Katie moment, I’d love to hear your story. Drop into my DMs or leave a comment on your experiences and how you’ve navigated similar challenges.
