Separating experience & expression: a leader's guide to growth

Something you probably don't know about me is that I'm a professional singer and compete internationally. I don't do it on my own, it's a group sport with my choir. When I say that the crew of singers I hang with can create magic with their singing voices, it's really no exaggeration! If you're in Toronto area this weekend and free on Saturday, ping me - we're performing!

Like any professional sport that wants to go far, we've got coaches (with impressive resumes!!) and recently a coach said something to me about singing that I thought was SO REAL for leadership development.

The emotion exists before the words come out. The emotion is felt before the expression actually happens.

So often, we hide emotions because there's a narrative that:

• Emotions don't belong in boardrooms

• Promotions & bonuses are tied to (outward) emotional regulation

• Emotions are for the weak

We often box our professional life into “good” and “bad” and judge ourselves based on where we land each day. But what if that binary mindset didn’t exist? What if we didn’t label things and instead decided, “I’m a continuity, period”? Imagine starting your day with that mindset: I've been human all my life and and I'm going to trust my human-ness.

This isn’t about denying logic and it's place in professional situations. It's about being fully present with life, trusting that you’re part of something bigger, and choosing to stay connected to one's whole self.

So here's the big leadership play - catch yourself when you feel the emotion. The expression is your choice, but the experience is your birthright.

Leaning into your own human-ness might just change everything.

My best, always,

Shar