Monday Meditations - Believe

Over the last six weeks, we have reflected on the slowed progress of three CEOs we work closely with. Nothing was broken. The companies were still moving. But something essential had gone quiet.

We did not avoid those conversations. We leaned into them. They were personal and uncomfortable. What we named was a loss of self-belief. Not a lack of ability, but a loss of confidence in their own judgment. From there, we focused on how to support it deliberately.

At the earliest stages, the CEO's impact is outsized. Their belief in themselves shapes the pace, tone, and confidence of the entire company.

Loss of belief is an erosion. It happens slowly, over time. A few missed expectations. Enough second-guessing. Conviction softens. Even strong CEOs can start to doubt themselves. That is not weakness. It is human.

This time of year makes belief easier to see.

As kids, belief did not require proof. We believed because someone we trusted told us something was real. Santa worked because belief was reinforced. Repeatedly. The magic was not the story. It was the decision to believe.

Early-stage leadership is not much different. The data is incomplete. The feedback loops are long. And belief—offered sincerely by someone who has seen the work up close—can matter more than another plan.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say to a CEO is simple: I believe in you.

Not because everything is working. Not because the path is clear. But because you have seen their judgment. You have seen their resilience.

Belief does not replace execution. But it can reignite something essential. And once that spark is back, progress tends to follow.