May ’25 – Developing Staff (and Workplace Culture)
Week 2 – Characteristics of those who do it well
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Week 2 – Characteristics of those who do it well
This week in AP Studio, we continued our theme on Developing Staff (and Culture) by reflecting on the people who’ve shaped us—and what made their leadership so impactful.
We used the Miro board to surface names and qualities of mentors, past leaders, and culture-shapers in our lives—and then unpacked why they made such a difference.
Here’s what emerged:
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“Go for it—and mean it”: Tom shared stories of leaders who genuinely trusted their people, offered generous connections, and gave specific (sometimes hard!) feedback without micromanaging.
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Welcoming over perfection: Grace reflected on her yoga mentor, who built a community centered on belonging and individuality—a reminder that nonjudgmental spaces can fuel real growth.
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Distributed leadership is powerful: We explored how leadership qualities don’t have to live in just one person—when different team members bring curiosity, critique, and care, culture gets stronger.
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Being seen vs. being visible: Multiple folks spoke to the difference between being noticed for your work and being truly known as a whole person. Relational leadership—not just operational leadership—came up as essential.
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Challenging norms with care: From small experiments to big ideas, the group affirmed that innovation and inclusion go hand in hand. Leaders who notice potential and support people to try new approaches help cultures evolve.
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Mentorship, mismatch, and meaning: We acknowledged that not every leader is the right fit for every person—and that the ability to find the right support elsewhere is often just as important as getting it from a direct supervisor.
✨ We closed with a reflection on what it means to be “seen” at work—and how noticing, encouraging, and connecting can radically shift someone’s sense of belonging and possibility.
Browse the replay below!
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