That Kindergarten Feeling

Do you remember your first day of school? 

You walked into a room where you didn’t really know anyone. Nobody knew exactly what to expect. Everyone was figuring it out together.

There’s something incredibly vulnerable about that. There’s also something kind of magical about it.

I felt a version of that at Leadership Lexington orientation last week. Fifty-two of us showed up as relative strangers, representing different industries, organizations, backgrounds, and experiences. For the most part, there weren’t established friend groups or office dynamics to fall back on. We were all new.

It created what I’ve started thinking of as that kindergarten feeling: the vulnerability — and possibility — that comes from experiencing something for the first time alongside other people who are doing the same.

Over two days, we spent a lot of time getting to know each other. And I don't mean through cheesy icebreakers and trust falls. The warm-up exercises and conversations were thoughtful and intentional. We shared meals and made a point to mix it up every time we had a chance to mingle. We learned about our DiSC profile and how we each tend to communicate and, more importantly, how we can communicate best with each other. 

Then there were the relationship-building moments nobody had to plan.

Watching sports (as well as magic tricks, IYKYK) and having fun in the hotel bar after the official agenda (carefully curated by Tyra Harbut and Caitlin Maynard) ended. Finding the person you hadn’t talked to yet and pulling up a chair.

Discovering unexpected connections. Getting into the conversations where you start to understand who someone really is.

By the time we broke into teams to begin work on community projects that will have a lasting impact on Lexington, something had already shifted.

We weren’t a room full of strangers anymore.

Photo by Mahan Multimedia

As adults, we spend so much of our lives in environments where relationships are already established. We have our colleagues, our friends, our networks, our routines. There’s comfort in that — but there’s also something powerful about occasionally walking into a room where there are few established relationships. 

Because when everyone is new, everyone has to try. You ask questions. You listen. You make room. You risk the tiny awkwardness of walking up to someone and saying, essentially, "Want to be friends?"

Kindergarteners do that instinctively. But somewhere along the way, we often stop. 

Maybe the lesson isn't that we need more networking opportunities. Maybe we need more opportunities to be new together — to drop some of the roles, assumptions, and routines that make it easy to stay in our own lanes and give relationships a chance to form before we decide where we belong.

I’m excited about everything we’ll learn through Leadership Lexington this year and the work our class will do for this community. 

But I have a feeling the relationships we build along the way may be just as lasting as anything else we create.

✨ Best class ever! ✨

Real Talk 

Speaking of school, my son starts 7th grade tomorrow, but fall sports are in full swing. Last week, I shared this pic of me about to take a client coaching call from a shady side street near the school, since I was working and responsible for driving the carpool that day. I asked how y’all manage the busy BTS season, and the tips are worth checking out if you haven’t already. Feel free to add to the list – I appreciate all the help I can get!

In the Spotlight

Core Values Webinar

Your core values shape what motivates you and the choices you make. On Sept. 22, join me for a free, interactive webinar to identify the values that matter most to you and explore how they can bring clarity to your life and leadership. You’ll leave with a freeing sense of self-awareness and a framework for values-based decision-making. Register here. 

Brain Food

Being helpful and being indispensable aren’t the same thing. Sometimes the most helpful thing a leader can do is resist the urge to rescue. In the August issue of PRSA’s Strategies & Tactics, I share why stepping back, asking better questions, and leading with a coaching mindset can help your team build the confidence and problem-solving muscles to move forward on their own.

Pull Up A Chair

This month, in addition to your typical networking events, I encourage you to find one opportunity to step outside your usual circle.

Maybe it's sitting next to someone new, asking a question you wouldn’t normally ask, or striking up the conversation instead of waiting for someone else to do it. 

You never know what relationship might start with a simple invitation, or who's ready to join me in your corner. 💪