Emerging Leaders Are Surprised at Work — and That’s a Good Thing

We had another great session with one of our Emerging Leaders cohorts this week. The focus: self-awareness — one of the most important foundations of leadership.

We talked about the tools many of us have used — DISC, StrengthsFinder, Working Genius — and how to move beyond simply knowing your results. The real value comes from asking:

“How do these insights actually show up in my work every day?”

Great leaders stay curious about who they are and how they lead. They reflect on what’s working, what’s not, and how they can grow.

One of our participants shared that these assessments had never felt very useful before. That’s something we hear often and it’s one reason why our Emerging Leaders Peer Groups last six months — not one day.

Growth takes time. Self-awareness builds through reflection, feedback, and accountability.

Over the course of the program, each leader builds a development plan — focusing on their strengths and how to apply them intentionally with a coach and a peer group supporting them, the change is real and lasting.

And then something powerful happens — they start getting surprised at work.

• They notice things they didn’t before.

• They ask better questions.

• They see patterns in themselves and others.

That curiosity extends outward — to their teams, peers, and even customers. They become more present, more open, and more thoughtful. Those small moments of awareness lead to real insights and better results.

At Emerging Leaders Group, we’ve learned that the best leaders are the ones still willing to be surprised — especially by themselves.

Want to develop leaders like this in your organization? Our next Emerging Leaders Peer Group launches January 22. It’s a six-month experience combining peer learning, one-on-one coaching, and practical leadership development.

email Omari@emergingleadersgroup.com