Someone I coach recently shared that talking about his current “season of life” helped him make sense of what he’s navigating. The hard parts, the good parts, and the ways life feels different than it did a few years ago. Naming it gave him room to approach this season with more intention instead of fighting against it.

It made me think about my own seasons too, especially the turbulent ones. We all move through stretches where we can take on more and others where we’re just trying to hold on. In those moments, the right support at the right moment makes all the difference.

Our teams are no different.

But inside organizations, we often lead as if everyone is in the same season. And that’s where the problems start. 

People get pushed too hard when they’re already stretched thin. Others get under-challenged when they’re ready for more. Some make a rare mistake and get judged on it instead of supported. And slowly, trust and performance erode in ways dashboards don’t immediately show.

Strong managers learn to read the moment before they react to it.

They pay attention to the signs:
– Is this someone who needs a push right now?
– Or someone who needs steadiness and support?
– Or someone who just needs a little space to get their footing back?

Those decisions seem small, but they shape how people grow or whether they grow at all.

It isn’t about lowering expectations. It’s about using the right expectations at the right time. And when leaders make that shift, something important happens: people feel understood, not evaluated.

When managers can recognize the season someone is in and respond with empathy and intentional support, performance doesn’t drop. Instead, trust rises. Engagement rises. And people grow faster because they feel seen, heard, and supported.

Over time, those moments shape the culture. A culture where seasons are expected and supported, not ignored. Where managers don’t treat everyone the same, but lead with enough presence to know what someone needs to move forward.

Teams don’t need leaders who are always pushing. They need leaders who lead with enough presence to know when to push and when to steady the ground beneath someone’s feet.