What Can I Do Better?

You’re not perfect.

That may come as a bit of a shock to some of you. 😊

And if you’re worried about what might happen if other people find out, don’t worry.

They already know.

None of us are perfect. We all have our strengths, our quirks, our blind spots, and things we could do better.

When we accept that we are all works in progress, something important shifts. We can stop trying to appear as though we have it all figured out and instead become curious:

Where am I not quite showing up the way I want to?

Where might my behavior not be having the impact I intend?

What could I do differently?

Self-awareness is an important part of becoming a better leader, but self-reflection alone isn’t enough. We also need feedback to understand the gap between our intentions and our impact.

And getting that feedback can start with one remarkably simple question:

How can I be a better ________?

Ask your partner. A friend. A colleague. Someone on your team. Someone you lead.

And then listen.

Not to explain.

Not to defend.

Not to tell them why they misunderstood you.

Just listen.

Imagine what could happen on a team if everyone felt comfortable asking one another, “What can I do better?”

Or what might shift in a relationship if, instead of focusing on what the other person needs to change, we occasionally asked what we could do differently.

We are all works in progress.

The question is whether we are intentional about the work.

Who could you ask today: “What can I do better?”.

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About Miki Feldman Simon: Miki is an executive coach, speaker, and award-winning author of CORE Leadership: A Four-Step Framework to Lead Yourself, Grow Your Influence, and Amplify Your Impact. She helps leaders turn insight into intentional action, strengthen their agency, and increase their impact.