As leaders, we like to feel confident… Competent… Capable…
Typically we’ve earned our roles by knowing, deciding, doing. And for many senior leaders I work with, that competence has been reinforced through years of success.
So it’s no surprise that adopting a new leadership approach can feel… uncomfortable.
When I introduce the Leaders Who Ask framework, I begin by referencing a powerful concept from Harvard’s Professor Ronald Heifetz — the idea of leading beyond the frontier of your competence.
It’s a confronting phrase, and an important one.
Because I’m not just asking leaders to learn a few coaching questions. I’m inviting them to shift their leadership identity — from the person with the answers to the person who creates the space for others to think, act, and grow.
That’s not a minor skill upgrade. It’s a bold shift. And it takes courage, not comfort.
Early attempts often feel awkward. Slower. Less polished. For highly capable leaders, that can feel like failure. But it’s not. It’s the natural cost of growth.
The frontier of your competence isn’t a boundary to fear. It’s the place where real leadership begins.
Where are you staying confident, when you could be growing instead?
Go fearlessly
Corrinne
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