Most people can name someone who believed in them before they fully believed in themselves. While I’ve posted about believing only in yourself, there is a balance of external and internal feedback during your career.

• A manager who gave them an opportunity.
• A mentor who encouraged them to try.
• A person who noticed something they couldn’t see yet.

That kind of support can change the direction of a career because sometimes we do need another person to help us notice what was already there.

A few reminders about the impact of being seen:

1. The right feedback can change your perspective

Sometimes other people see our strengths before we do.

• They notice how we solve problems.
• How we support others.
• How we handle challenges.

Their perspective can help us recognize our own, though it doesn’t define us.

2. Growth often starts before confidence

Confidence is built by stepping into something before you’re completely comfortable. The opportunity comes first. The growth follows.

3. Great leaders don’t create followers. They create confidence

The best leaders don’t make people dependent on them. They help people trust their own abilities. They provide encouragement, honesty, and opportunities to grow.

4. Eventually, you have to carry that belief forward

At some point, the voice that encouraged you has to become your own. You take the support you received and turn it into self-belief. Sometimes someone else helps you see yourself clearly. The goal is to eventually see yourself that way too.

This song, “You Saw Me,” is about the impact of the people who recognize something in us before we are able to recognize it ourselves and how that belief can eventually become our own. Use the song to remind yourself that there are people who see you, even when it’s very important to see yourself from the inside out. #musicforthemessage

Additional Reading:

• Collective Illusions by Todd Rose
• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
• The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth
• Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong
• Plays Well with Others: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Relationships Is (Mostly) Wrong
• The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life
• Leaders Eat Last