As I write this, I am just wrapping up a year of serving as a coach in a national leadership program. I agreed to take on this role as I do all things I am asked to do—pretty routinely say “sure, be glad to” and ask about the details later! It was a big commitment with meetings, both in person and virtually, and time with my team between formal sessions. And although there were moments when I groaned about the time it demanded, there is no question that the experience was well worth every moment, unquestionably exceeding my expectations.

There were a lot of elements to what made this work, a well developed and honed program, talented organizers and facilitators, thoughtful selection of those accepted into the program and more. The team I had the privilege of working with represented diverse roles, geographies, personalities and career stages. If you looked at it on paper, you would wonder if such a group could ever find a connection and common ground.

And, yet, everyone came together and, over time, began to create a whole that was far greater than the sum of its parts. The energy was palpable and the support for one another unshakeable. That enabled each person to open up and allow themselves to be truly authentic and truly vulnerable in a way that I have only really ever seen in long term relationships and friendships.

Each of us, coach and participants alike, learned from one another, built on one another’s honest input and open, but not judgmental, questions to expand our thinking. It was magic, the best kind of magic, because it came from people whose hearts were fully engaged and whose intentions were pure.

It was a gift to see, and be with, so many people with some much potential to do, to create and to grow. It was a gift to see those opportunities for growth become clear to them and, in truth, become clearer in my own life as well. The core of all of it seems to me around believing. As I spent time with these talented people, I realized that the biggest issue is, more times than not, believing in yourself, believing in your abilities, believing that “you’ve got this.” And I recognized the little voice that I often hear in my own head that asks “What makes you think you could . . .” Gaining the ability to shut off that voice, to try and see ourselves as others see us and to hold onto the gifts we each have—that’s what will help us to not only achieve but to continue to fill our full hearts.