Wednesday Wisdom
Wednesday Wisdom: Trust Who You Are Becoming
“Who do I think I am, anyway?”
— Graffiti on a wall in New York
How does that question land with you?
Before answering, pause:
-Breathe in slowly… Exhale.
-Again…breathe in... Exhale.
-Release the noise, the expectations, the titles, and — just for a moment — other people’s perceptions of who you are supposed to be.
Now ask yourself:
Who do I think I am, anyway?
And perhaps an even more powerful question:
Who do I TRUST myself to become?
As we move deeper into September’s theme of TRUST and prepare to enter the fourth quarter, this is an opportunity to examine not only where we are going, but who is doing the leading.
Gay Hendricks, psychologist and author of A Year of Living Consciously, challenges us to consider how, over time, we can begin seeing ourselves through the perceptions and expectations of others.
That raises an important leadership question:
How much of who you are today was consciously chosen — and how much was inherited, expected, or assigned?
From a coaching perspective, self-awareness is not about judging what we discover. It is about becoming curious enough to notice our beliefs, values, assumptions, patterns, and choices — and courageous enough to decide what still serves us.
The International Coaching Federation’s current Core Competencies emphasize curiosity, reflection, trust and safety, evoking awareness, and supporting people in translating insight into meaningful action. (ICF)
And that matters for leaders.
Trust is not only something we build with others.
It is something we practice within ourselves.
Before asking your team to trust your leadership, consider:
Where am I trusting my own values — and where am I seeking validation?
What belief about myself have I outgrown but continue to carry?
What would change if I trusted myself enough to lead from who I am rather than who others expect me to be?
And with your team, consider asking:
“What would help each of us show up more authentically, speak more candidly, and trust one another more deeply as we enter Q4?”
Then listen... Not to respond... Not to defend... Not to fix... Listen to understand.
That conversation matters.
Recent leadership research continues to underscore the relationship among trust, psychological safety, candid communication, and the ability of people to contribute meaningfully — particularly during periods of disruption and uncertainty. (Harvard Business Review)
As Q4 approaches, resist the temptation to focus only on what still needs to be done.
Make room to consider who you are becoming.
You do not have to have every answer.
But you do need enough self-trust to ask yourself the questions that matter — and enough courage to listen to your answers.
You cannot lead confidently from someone else’s definition of who you should be.
Trust who you are. Honor who you are becoming.
You got this!
Coach Tavia, PCC, MEd, MAT
#WednesdayWisdom #Trust #SelfTrust #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #SelfAwareness #AuthenticLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #ProfessionalDevelopment #ICFCoaching
References
1. International Coaching Federation — 2025 ICF Core Competencies The updated framework specifically emphasizes Cultivates Trust and Safety, Maintains Presence, Evokes Awareness, and Facilitates Client Growth.2025 ICF Core Competencies
2. Harvard Business Review — “What Leaders Need to Know About AI and Psychological Safety” — Jayshree Seth & Amy C. Edmondson, September 17, 2026. Especially timely for your audience because it examines trust and psychological safety in today’s AI-influenced workplace.Read the HBR article
3. Harvard Business Review — “Most Employees Don’t Trust Their Leaders. Here’s What to Do About It.” — Ned Feuer & Maggie Mastrogiovanni. It addresses organizational trust amid disruption, policy shifts, and economic uncertainty.Read the HBR article
4. Hendricks, Gay. A Year of Living Consciously: 365 Daily Inspirations for Creating a Life of Passion and Purpose. HarperOne, 1998.
Tavia Robinson
EMPOWER COACHING & CONSULTING, LLC
732.743.5012
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