“I got scared, so I came back.”

When the executive admitted this,

everyone on the video call smiled.

The setup:

Last week, I delivered a

virtual keynote for 300 sales reps

at a large company summit.

A few days prior, there was a tech

run-through for anyone presenting—

myself and various internal leaders

—as this particular virtual platform

was fairly advanced.

As part of the rehearsal, the exec

who was kicking off the meeting

was asked to exit “backstage”

(where 25 of us were gathered)

and switch over to “front stage webinar” mode.

She did…

but then quickly returned “backstage.”

When the tech advisor asked

her what happened, she responded,

“I went over there but didn’t see anyone.

I got scared, so I came back.”

A wave of smiles and chuckles

spread across the video squares

of team member faces.

I loved this moment so much.

Leaders often talk about values

such as authenticity or vulnerability

in theoretical terms, but there’s

nothing quite like seeing a value in action.

When it comes to a word like

authenticity, vulnerability, integrity,

fun, honesty, respect, etc.,

it’s one thing to list it on a website

under the OUR VALUES tab;

it’s another to show it in action,

even in the smallest of ways.

The effect on a team culture

of demonstrating a value

in what I call a Micro MomentTM

cannot be underestimated.

Risk Forward & Rock On,