Diary of a Leader: When a Closed Mindset Blocks Collaboration
- Lindsay Sheldrake
- Oct 8
- 3 min read
Welcome to Diary of a Leader: Real Stories, Leadership Lessons, and Personal Growth
Ah, leadership. It’s humbling, unpredictable, and constantly revealing new layers of what it means to lead people, not just processes.
Welcome back to Diary of a Leader, a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to lead with purpose, foster collaboration, and create healthy, high-performing teams.
If you’ve ever walked into a meeting with the best intentions and walked out wondering what just happened, this one’s for you.
The Story: When Collaboration Meets Resistance
Not long ago, I met with two senior leaders to align on an operational strategy for the next quarter.
I had worked closely with both during the discovery phase. One was deeply curious and eager to move things forward, while the other tended to hold her cards a little closer. At first, I assumed it was simply her style—thoughtful, observant, slow to trust. Over time, I saw moments of openness and believed we had built a foundation for collaboration.
When we gathered to map out priorities and organizational design, the tone shifted. The conversation that should have been creative and energizing felt heavy instead. The air in the room tightened.
One leader leaned in, ready to explore possibilities. The other seemed distracted, disconnected, almost as if she was somewhere else entirely. Ideas were offered, questions were asked, but little was received. At one point, we started sketching out different structures on paper, and she quietly stepped back, saying she already had a plan. But when asked to share it, she kept it close.
I left the room that day feeling the gap between alignment and openness. Not because anyone was wrong, but because the willingness to collaborate wasn’t shared equally.
It struck me as a missed opportunity for transformation. When a conversation among leaders becomes guarded instead of generative, the potential for real change slips away.
What It Taught Me About Leadership and Collaboration
I’ve learned that collaboration isn’t just about structure or process—it’s about mindset.
A closed mindset doesn’t always show up as resistance. Sometimes it looks like silence, guarded energy, or an unwillingness to explore ideas that feel uncertain.
When leaders approach conversations from a place of protection rather than curiosity, the whole room feels it. The rhythm breaks. Ideas stop flowing. And the team, even the most capable one, loses momentum.
Openness doesn’t mean agreeing with everything or abandoning conviction. It means being willing to explore the space between perspectives—to look at the problem together instead of defending your corner of it.
Why Openness Matters More Than Consensus
In my work, I often see how culture challenges ripple out from leadership behavior. If decision-makers model defensiveness, teams mirror it. If leaders stay open, even when it’s uncomfortable, collaboration deepens, trust builds, and problems get solved faster.
Closed mindsets quietly cost businesses more than missed ideas. They cost psychological safety, innovation, and forward motion.
When we shut down dialogue, we shut down growth.
The Leadership Lesson: Courage Over Certainty
Collaboration requires courage—the courage to be wrong, to be challenged, and to not have the answer.
If we want teams to bring their best thinking forward, we have to show them it’s safe to do so. That starts at the top.
If your team doesn’t understand how it connects to their day-to-day success, it won’t stick.
Reflection Prompts for Leaders
Next time you find yourself in a room where the energy feels closed, pause and ask:
What’s not being said here?
What might fear or ego be protecting?
How can I model curiosity instead of certainty?
The real work of leadership isn’t about having the plan. It’s about creating space where the best ideas can emerge.
Wrapping Up: Collaboration as a Reflection of Openness
That meeting didn’t move the business forward. But it reminded me of something more valuable: collaboration is a reflection of openness.
When leaders stay curious, they create the conditions for growth. And when they don’t, even the most promising strategies stall before they start.
Here’s the takeaway: the best leaders don’t just share the table—they share the mindset that keeps it open.
Want support creating open, collaborative leadership systems?
Stay tuned for more real-world lessons on leadership, operational clarity, and purposeful growth in the next installment of Diary of a Leader. Because leading teams and managing projects isn’t about doing it all. It’s about focusing on what matters most—and doing it with intention, rhythm, and excellence.
