Written by Cari Borden

Ever tried to solve a puzzle without the picture on the box?

Welcome to your first day as a new leader.

Some dive into leadership thinking they’re ready, only to find the pieces scattered. Some are missing empathy; others don’t even know what self-awareness looks like in action. If this sounds like you, breathe easy, you’re not broken, you’re building.

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The Puzzle Metaphor:

Leadership isn’t one of those 25-piece children’s puzzles. It’s more like the 1000-piece kind, no edge pieces in sight, no clear picture to guide you.

At first, you’re overwhelmed. But over time, if you commit to finding the connections, between people, performance, and purpose, you start to see the bigger picture.

And here’s the kicker:
Some leaders are handed the empathy corner pieces straight out the gate. Others? They dig through a box of experiences, awkward feedback sessions, trust-building fails, and a few “I probably shouldn’t have said that” moments, just to find theirs.

That doesn’t make you less. That makes you real.

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Enter SMART, the Emotionally Intelligent Edition:

To navigate this messy, brilliant journey, I use a twist on SMART, not just as a goal-setting tool, but a leadership lens:

🧠 S – Self-Awareness

Begin here. If you can’t name how you’re showing up, your team’s already figured it out for you.

🌱 M – Mindful Impact

Empathy isn’t always natural, but it can be intentional. Ask: What’s it like to be on the other side of me today?

🔎 A – Authentic Accountability

Own the missteps. Nothing earns respect like:

“I got that wrong. Let’s make it right.”

💬 R – Resilient Communication

Talk with people, not at them.
Clarity is kind. Listening is leadership.

🔐 T – Trust That’s Built, Not Bought

You don’t inherit trust when you get the title. You earn it, piece by piece, day by day.

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The Journey Isn’t Linear (And That’s Okay)

You might be starting your puzzle upside down. You may have all the wrong corner pieces at first.
But I promise, with the right framework, a willingness to grow, and a few coaching nudges, the picture becomes clearer.

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📣 Call to Action

I’ve walked this leadership road, puzzle pieces and all.
If you’re somewhere in the middle of sorting yours, let’s connect.

Whether you’re:

• struggling with empathy,
• stuck in feedback loops, or
• feeling like your leadership “box cover” doesn’t match the pieces in front of you…

I can help you find your edges.

🎯 Let’s build your leadership picture — one piece, one emotionally intelligent step, at a time.
👉 Connect with me on Fiverr for coaching support.