Every great leader was first seen by someone who recognized their potential before they did.
Think about the leaders you most admire. Behind each one stands someone who witnessed their becoming, who saw leadership qualities before they were obvious and created space for them to emerge.
This is the hidden leadership legacy we rarely discuss: our responsibility to witness potential in others while seeking those who witness it in us.
As a coach working with mission-driven leaders, I consistently observe this pattern. The most impactful executives don't just develop their own capabilities; they become skilled at recognizing emerging potential in their teams and organizations.
The manager who saw your strategic mind and gave you complex problems to solve, or the advisor who believed in your vision when you only had questions.
But here's what separates great leaders: they understand this is reciprocal. They become witnesses to becoming for others.
- How are you currently serving as a witness to someone else's potential?
- What emerging capabilities do you see in your team that they haven't recognized yet?
