They say, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, then you’re in the wrong room.”

During last week’s working vacation, I was definitely in all the right rooms.

Based on feedback from my last workshop, “The Power of Playfulness in Growth”, I’ve decided that my next workshop will be “Creating Safe Places to Fail for Fostering Growth.”

Last week I traveled to Vancouver, Washington to visit my Sensei, who just moved there, and other friends. We’re all martial artists and self-defense instructors so this is what we do: create safe places to fail until the student can get it right.

But what’s the best way to articulate that? What’s the most effective way to teach this?

My friends gave me a lot of incredible insights that deepened my approach to fostering safe places for growth. To start with it comes down to this:

As a leader, do you believe that the people you lead are naturally hard working and want to do a good job? Or do you believe that they’re naturally lazy and need to be managed?

If you believe that they’re naturally hard working then you’ll be a great leader, you’ll set them up for success and get out of their way so they can exceed your expectations. This is exactly how my husband and I ran our restaurant.

But if you believe they’re naturally lazy, you’ll micromanage them and inhibit innovation.

Almost all my friends with whom I discussed this are ADHD and/or Autistic—and each one is a remarkable leader or teacher. Our neurodivergent traits, like empathy, creative problem-solving, and adaptability, often make us impactful leaders. When we lean into these strengths, we set others up for success and bring out their best.

Actionable Steps:

1. Reflect on Your Beliefs: Do you see people as naturally motivated or needing oversight? Consider how this shapes your leadership style.

2. Revisit Your Experiences: Think about how your journey might make you more supportive and attuned to individual potential.

3. Recognize Your Unique Strengths: Neurodivergent or not, reflect on how your unique qualities—and those of your team—can elevate your leadership.

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.