Senscia Leadership

Happy #FunFactFriday, everyone! Last week I did not get a FFF post out, unfortunately. I know that was very upsetting for you all. Hopefully this week's post is SUPER helpful to make up for it. ?? It is always an honor to get to witness a leader's true, unfiltered thoughts and feelings. Often, I observe frustration or disappointment about a direct report's behavior, especially when expectations aren’t being met. When we dig deeper into the root cause of the frustration, it’s common to hear it framed as a sign of incompetence or lack of commitment. After years of studying human behavior, I can confidently say: "Nah, dude." ?? Yes, some people may not be a great fit or struggle to perform at their best, but there are?many?other reasons someone might be having a hard time. Check out the graphic below for just a few examples. ?? Here’s the takeaway: mindset matters. If you believe someone is incompetent or uncommitted, you may start treating them that way—even unintentionally. As leaders, our role is to help people succeed until it's clear the fit isn’t right. By considering the various reasons someone might be struggling, you can shift your frustration to curiosity. Maybe you even have a conversation to help identify and address their roadblocks. This approach not only helps someone potentially worth 'saving' meet expectations, but it’s also kinder, fairer, and far more cost-effective for your business.

It’s #FunFactFriday again, and today’s topic is: Metacommunication. Metacommunication is communication about communication. In other words, it's discussing the "how" and "why" behind our interactions. This involves reflecting on the tone, context, and underlying emotions that shape our conversations, and striving to be more explicit to avoid misunderstandings. ?? This week, I had the pleasure of observing a leadership team during their monthly business review. While I couldn't keep up with all of the content, I did notice elements of their process at play (see the first-ever #FunFactFriday post on Content vs. Process). Afterwards, we discussed how they might not always be allocating adequate time to cross-functional problems, which could lead to misalignment down the road. Not only was this metacommunication in action, but I also recommended using this approach as a tool in the future. While talking about how we interact can be time-consuming, misunderstandings — and the challenges they create — can be even more work to unravel. Our brains are wired to make assumptions for cognitive efficiency, but we're not always great at appreciating subtle nuances, particularly in fast-paced business environments. Taking a few minutes to clarify your intent, message, and desired outcomes can be a powerful collaboration 'hack.' ?? Try this in a 1:1 or group meeting by saying something like, "Hey, I’m noticing that we seem to be talking past each other. Can we pause for a second and discuss?" or "I’m not sure I’m being clear. Can I try that again?" This can open up a space for you to express yourself differently and, potentially, gain insight into your colleagues’ communication patterns as well.

WELP. Yesterday marked 6 months in business for Senscia Leadership. ?? Can you believe it? As an entrepreneur, I am learning the importance of celebrating small 'wins' along the way—if nothing else, to keep the worry at bay. Plus, it's advice I often give, so it's time to take my own medicine! Here are a few wins I'm reminding myself to acknowledge: ?? We have formalized relationships with over 10 client organizations to date—some familiar, some new. ?? We have been invited to deliver work in multiple states across the US, as well as abroad. ?? We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback on our engagements and, in most cases, have been asked to take on follow-up work. ?? We have enough interest in our work that our team is officially growing! Not bad for 6 months, right? ?? If you know my story, you know that I didn't have a community for much of my life. While it made me fiercely independent, it was often lonely and difficult to carry the weight of the human experience on my own. It wasn't until I began embarking on the Senscia journey that I realized what a fantastic professional community I have now. It brings me to tears to think of all the thoughtful, generous, and talented individuals who have become my clients, mentors, colleagues, and team members—my 'people.' Gratitude doesn't begin to describe the feeling. ?? I truly believe my life's work is to partner with and serve all of you. Thank you for giving me purpose and meaning. It can be incredibly hard at times, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Here's to celebrating small wins and approaching the rest of 2024 with a mindset of joy and abundance. LET'S GOOOOOOOO! ??

#FunFactFriday already? Awesome! This week, we’re highlighting the defense mechanism known as rationalization—not to be confused with last week's focus on intellectualization. Rationalization occurs when an individual justifies or explains their behavior, thoughts, or feelings in a seemingly logical manner to avoid facing their true feelings or socially unacceptable behavior. For example, consider a CFO who has high expectations of the business leaders around him and may use an overly critical or harsh tone when disappointed. When challenged on this, he explains that the business is underperforming and, while he doesn't want to be hard on them, he can't let them 'off the hook' on his watch. Rather than acknowledging that he is worried about what investors will think, he rationalizes his behavior as acceptable and necessary. Does this sound familiar? ?? I'm with you! ?? For those with a lot of brain power, it can be tempting to do the mental gymnastics required to make our less effective behaviors make sense. However, it might be more useful to shift from thinking to feeling in these moments. When you find yourself passionately justifying your behavior, stop and ask yourself: "What am I feeling right now? What might rationalization be protecting me from?" Where it feels safe, try sharing the answers you find with your colleagues. You might be surprised at how much more productive the discussion becomes.