"Christina" loved her job, her clients, her team — yet was on the verge of quitting. Why? A lack of feedback or praise from her boss.
I offered a scenario: imagine your boss said, "Christina, I see your passion, your dedication, how your team adores you. Thank you — I love having you on the team." Her face glowed — then fell: "But he would never say that."
"Listen to yourself," I said. "You're thinking of leaving a job you love over a few sentences he doesn't say?" She paused, then admitted the irony: after years of striving for independence, her validation still hinged on someone else's approval. She resolved to practice what she preached to her team — to appreciate herself.
Takeaways: self-validation is crucial; leaders' recognition of their teams matters enormously; and sometimes the missing piece is a single conversation — even one we have with ourselves.
