What’s It Like to Be Led by You?
The Leadership Audit Most Leaders Never Do—But Should
And just like that, the tables were turned.
What followed was humbling—and, if I’m honest, a little nerve-wracking.
It was a leadership audit.
My leadership audit.
I walked into a small meeting room where my direct reports, our HR partner, and I were about to do something most leaders rarely experience.
Three flip charts stood at the front of the room.
Each one had a title: START. STOP. CONTINUE.
The chairs were arranged in a semi-circle, facing the boards like a stage.
The team seemed excited—maybe even a little giddy.
They were clearly ready to spill the beans on their manager :-)
They looked forward to this day, teasing me that week. All in good fun.
As I took my seat, HR went over the ground rules.
A year into a new leadership role, it was common practice to pause and reflect—to give the team space to share their perspective:
What should I start doing that would help them thrive?
What should I stop doing that might be getting in the way?
And what should I continue doing that was already working?
After a few opening remarks—where I thanked them for their honesty in advance and reminded them how important this was to our growth as a team—I was politely... asked to leave the room.
They needed privacy to be open.
And I needed to sit with the unknown—for a little while longer.
And yes—for those wondering—it turned out to be a wonderful experience.
One that challenged me, shaped me, and ultimately made me a more effective leader.
Most Leaders Measure Results. Few Measure Their Impact.
We track performance. We chase KPIs.
But how often do we stop and ask:
“What’s it like to be on the receiving end of me?”
It’s a simple question.
But it takes courage to ask—and even more courage to truly listen.
Leadership isn’t just about setting direction or hitting targets.
It’s about the experience we create for the people we lead.
Do people feel heard in your presence—or just spoken to?
Do they leave a conversation with more clarity—or more confusion?
Do you energize the room—or quietly drain it?
We all leave an emotional wake behind us.
The question is: What’s yours?
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou
A Simple Leadership Audit You Can Do Today
You can’t improve what you don’t see.
A simple leadership audit can help you close the gap between intention and impact.
Here’s a straightforward tool I’ve used that anyone can try.
No consultants, no fancy forms. Just honest reflection and real feedback.
Try this Mini Self-Audit Framework:
Ask yourself—or better yet, ask your team anonymously—to reflect on three key questions:
Start: What should I start doing that would help you thrive?
Stop: What should I stop doing that gets in the way or causes frustration?
Continue: What am I already doing that’s working well and should continue?
That’s it.
You just need the courage to ask—and the humility to listen and act.
Take-Home Messages
🦉 You don’t need to be perfect. But you do need to be intentional.
Because whether you realize it or not— you’re always leaving an impression.
Make sure it’s one worth remembering.
About the Author:
Nick is passionate about enabling people and businesses to reach their full potential.
He taps into over 25+ years of truly diverse leadership experience, challenging the status quo - to ultimately define a clear strategic path forward and propel success.
Thought Leader | Board member | Founder of Aktina Group Consulting | Proud Father
Great insight! For me the scariest thing is when my team gives me feedback that all is well on my side. We are people, and people make mistakes. True leadership is facing those omissions and improving :)
Great post. Most leaders don’t think about how they impact their team which is odd because a persons boss has a massive influence on their life.