The Shadow You Cast
Julian Stodd shared a story in his newsletter about giving a leadership team feedback from their teams. Below are some of his thoughts on how they received it—
To disentangle personal feelings - because we are all within culture, and all feel the tidal pulls of it - and take a more analytic, systems, or metacognitive view. To recognize that it’s a co-dependent system, socially co-created.
This is one of the hardest things, because it often means we must accept that we ourselves are part of the equation.
To see the system - and to see ourselves within the system.
In the Quiet Leadership work we describe this as seeing ourselves operating in the light, but aware of the shadows we cast - and to accept that we all cast shadows. Engaging with these strengthens our leadership.
It made me consider the metaphor of our shadows as leaders. To consider—
What are we casting?
Are we covering others in our shadows?
Is it too short or too long?
Are we aware of it and intentional with it?
The key awareness here is that WE ALL cast shadows, in these contexts as leaders, change agents, and coaches. When you’re next reflecting on yourself, be curious about the shadows you are casting.
Thank you, Julian, for always inspiring my reflections.
Stay agile, my friends,
Bob.
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