This was high stakes. Two great players—one a seasoned professional and the other a rising star—collaborated on an all-important project that would seal the fate of their team.
Both brilliant, driven, and experts in their areas, yet something wasn’t working out. Conversations seemed forced, decisions took a long time to be made, and mutual frustration was starting to appear.
One day, during a particularly tense meeting, the rising star hesitated before speaking. “I need to be honest about something,” he said, his voice uncertain. “I don’t feel confident sharing my ideas because…I’m not sure how they’ll be received.”
The room went silent. The seasoned professional leaned forward and responded:
“I appreciate your honesty. Can I share something too? I’ve been holding back feedback because I didn’t want to come across as critical. Let’s figure this out together.”
Something shifted in that moment. Tension melted away, and instead, they worked together. The project took off. exceeding their expectations.
But here is the real question:
What changed? Why did that single exchange unlock their ability to work together?
This is the story that unfolds each day at work, in families, and among friends. It reminds us that the most talented teams can easily go wrong if something critical is missing.
Stay tuned for the next post where I’ll share another experience of mine – What happens when unspoken barriers within a team hold back progress?
Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI): Redefining Trust in Digital Ecosystems
September 3, 2025
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