Last month, I partnered with my Altus Growth Partners colleague Ryan to support a client I’ve been working with for over a decade.
It’s always good to bring in a fresh pair of eyes and new perspectives, and in working with Ryan for the first time something very special was made visible to me.
The importance of authenticity.
For the past two years, I’ve been working closely with this client’s PMO group.
They’re a strong team doing meaningful work.
After our session, Ryan told me he was surprised I was “getting away” with naming certain behaviors he thought would be mood killers.
But what I was doing wasn’t about putting people on the spot or making them wrong.
It was about being real—with care.
I wasn’t calling people out. I was inviting them in.
Instead of asking, “Why are you doing this?”
I shared my observation and asked, “Do you see this too?”
That simple shift—of naming with genuine care instead of judgment—created the space for the team to reflect together.
It builds trust.
It teaches teams how to care for one another.
And it makes learning possible—because it comes from a place that’s deeply human.
When authenticity leads, people feel it. And they respond.
Where might your team be ready for more authenticity?
What conversation could make that visible?