Setback or Signal?

A month ago, I had back surgery. Last week, I started physical therapy - and then the headaches hit. Suddenly, what felt like progress turned into fear: did I push too hard? Is this normal? Should I stop?

The fear made me pause. And listen.

As a leadership coach, it got me wondering: how often do leaders give themselves permission to acknowledge fear – to their employees or to themselves?

In a world that’s increasingly brittle, anxious, non-linear, and incomprehensible (BANI), fear is inevitable. What we do with fear makes all the difference.

If we don’t name our fear, we lead from it. We react. We control. We overcompensate.

And all the while, we pretend we’re “fine.”

The truth? Emotion is data. Fear can offer wise counsel – if we’re willing to listen.

Right now, my fear is telling me: slow down. Call the surgeon. Postpone the trip.

Hard decisions. Guilt comes too—I don’t want to disappoint my mom by not bringing my kids for a visit. I hope she’ll understand, and I do want to ski again with my wife and kids in a few months.

This is what leading fully human looks like: trading perfection for presence, power for honesty.

If you’re a leader navigating uncertainty - and tired of pretending you’re not afraid – now is the time to do the work. Stop reacting. Start leading differently.

Reach out to me (mike@kraftcg.com) if you’re ready to explore what it means to lead more fully human – in your work and in your life.

#HumanCenteredLeadership, #LeadWithHeart, #EmotionalIntelligence, #VulnerableLeadership, #AuthenticLeadership, #FearAndLeadership, #BANIworld