You know your people, or at least, you know who they've been.

You've worked together for years.

You know what they're good at, how they approach problems, what excites them, and what frustrates them.

That history helps you make decisions. It can also make it easy to stop asking questions.

When people outgrow our perceptions

You may still see someone as the junior employee who needed guidance, even though they've become a confident decision-maker.

Or the quiet person who rarely spoke up, without noticing how much their thinking and confidence have developed.

Sometimes people grow faster than our perception of them changes.

And when that happens, we may overlook what they're ready for now.

Make room for a different conversation

Next time you sit down together, make room for a different conversation:

- What feels different for you than it did a year ago?

- What have you become more confident doing?

- What would you like to take on next?

Listen before deciding what their answers mean.

Knowing your people takes more than remembering who they've been.

When was the last time you checked whether any of that has changed?

Ready for your next step? It is waiting for you at the top of the page.