From Boardrooms to Bark Parks: Lessons in Leadership, Self Awareness and Seeing People Clearly
- Meri Stockwell
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
The View from the Bike Path
It is early November on Florida’s Gulf Coast—the air is crisp, the light golden, and the mornings feel full of possibility.As I ride with CC, my Chief Cultural Officer and Cavapoo sidekick, I realize that leadership—like life—is all about awareness. Awareness of how we think, how we lead, and how we connect.
This edition of People Powered Performance brings that awareness into focus:
• How to quiet your mind and reclaim your joy through Positive Intelligence
• How to see your people clearly through the Predictive Index
• And how leadership lessons can come from anywhere—even a six-and-a-half-month-old puppy named CC
So, grab your coffee, take a deep breath, and let’s dive in.
When the Holidays Trigger Your Inner “CEO of Control” (and How to Quiet Them Before They Take Over)
Tomorrow marks the start of the holiday-season hustle. Calendars fill, expectations rise, and peace and presence often slip away. That is when our saboteurs love to take the wheel.
As a Qualified Positive Intelligence Coach, I help leaders recognize the mental habits that hijack joy and performance. I am not immune to them myself. My Controller whispers, “If I do not handle it, it will not get done right.”My Hyper Rational argues that emotions are distractions.
For years, they ran my holidays like a project plan.
Now, through Positive Intelligence, I can recognize when those saboteurs appear and shift into my Sage brain—the calm, creative part that leads with empathy. Here are three ways to quiet your saboteurs this season:
1. Shift from Command to Curiosity. Ask yourself, What would curiosity look like right now? Curiosity invites perspective and grace.
2. Balance Logic with Connection. Facts matter, but feelings carry valuable data. Naming them brings authenticity.
3. Do One PQ Rep Before You React. Take ten seconds to focus on a sensation—your breath, a sound, a texture. This simple act resets your brain and your presence.
The holidays do not need perfection to hold meaning. When you quiet your saboteurs, you open space for joy.
When They Do Not See You: Why Understanding Talent Is Your Competitive Advantage
It was a Tuesday afternoon when I sat across from a vice president of procurement at a mid-size construction company in the Tampa Bay area. He leaned back and said quietly, “You know, Meri, I have talented people, but I am not sure they feel seen.”
That single sentence hit home.
A recent Predictive Index and HR Dive study found that nearly half of workers say their boss does not truly understand them.For many, that lack of understanding goes beyond personality—it affects motivation, trust, and performance.
In that moment, I realized this is not just a data point. It is a warning light for leaders who want to build strong, resilient teams.
The Disconnect Between Leaders and Talent
The study revealed that many employees feel misunderstood when it comes to how they work best. Some said they were passed over for projects or promotions because leaders misjudged their abilities. Others said feedback from their managers felt misaligned with how they saw themselves.
The cost of that disconnect is steep. When employees feel unseen, engagement falls, innovation slows, and top talent quietly disengages.
This is where the Predictive Index becomes a game-changer. As a Certified PI Partner, I help leaders look beyond the résumé and truly understand the people behind the performance. The behavioral data from PI assessments provides leaders with the language and visibility to understand what drives each person, how they communicate, and how they contribute most effectively.
When people feel understood, they feel valued. And valued people perform at their best.
A Story from the Field
That same construction company wanted to strengthen collaboration between project management and procurement. On paper, they had everything right—strong technical skills, clear responsibilities, and defined goals. But deadlines slipped and tension ran high.
We began by administering Predictive Index behavioral assessments to the entire team. What we discovered was eye-opening:
One project manager had a strong drive for innovation but was assigned to repetitive tracking work.
Another thrived on people interaction but was working in isolation.
Both were capable, but neither was in the right environment for their behavioral drives. Once we realigned responsibilities using PI insights—placing the innovator on supplier-improvement initiatives and the connector in a client-facing role—everything changed. Engagement increased, communication improved, and projects flowed more smoothly.
The difference was not in skill. It was in understanding.
Three Steps to Help Leaders Close the Gap
Ask Better Questions – Instead of “How are you doing?” try “What part of your work makes you feel most seen and valued?”
Use Behavioral Data, Not Assumptions – The Predictive Index provides actionable insight to lead intentionally.
Recognize and Reframe – Recognition is validation. Point out specific strengths—strategic thinking, precision, adaptability—and connect them to results.
In 2025, as hybrid work and AI reshape leadership, people want awareness more than perfection. Organizations that use behavioral insight gain an edge.
👉 Take your complimentary behavioral assessment and schedule your team review here.
🐾 Four and a Half Months of Lessons from My Chief Cultural Officer, CC the Cavapoo
At six and a half months old, CC is still learning, but her leadership instincts are already strong.
1. Energy Is Contagious – She starts every day as if it is the best one yet. Leaders set the tone.
2. Curiosity Builds Connection – She explores before she judges. Great leaders listen before they decide.
3. Play Fuels Productivity – Her tennis ball drops at my feet mid-Zoom call. A playful break renews focus and creativity.
4. Consistency Creates Safety – She thrives on rhythm and reliability. Predictable leadership builds trust.
5. Gratitude Multiplies Joy – Every sunrise ride reminds me that noticing good things is a leadership practice.
Leadership wisdom can come from anywhere—even a wagging tail.
Exciting Client Opportunities
We are recruiting for several exciting leadership roles on behalf of our clients this week. Initial interviews begin now:
Vice President, Operations — NJ, Waste Management (On-Site)
Materials Manager — MI, Manufacturing (On-Site)
Supply Chain Manager — OH, Manufacturing (On-Site)
Vice President, Operations — TX, Grocery (On-Site)
If none of these roles fit your next move, explore our career portal with more than 1,600 open positions across industries and functions. 👉 View our full job portal here - https://:www.meritasadvisorygroup.solutions/careers
The Power of Conversation
Let’s talk about how you are doing—how your team is growing, communicating, and aligning.
If you are curious about Predictive Index, Positive Intelligence, or leadership development that creates teams that click and results that stick, I would love to connect.
Warmly,
Meri M. Stockwell, MBA, CSP, CEP
Founder and CEO, Meritas Advisory Group, LLC
Certified Predictive Index Partner | Qualified Positive Intelligence Coach
Building Potential. Driving Performance. Delivering Results.
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