We often hear leaders say, “I treat everyone the same,” or “I just try to be fair.” But what if your definition of “fair” is shaped by a lifetime of only seeing the world through your own lens?
👣 That’s the power — and the limit — of lived experience.
Our lived experience is the combination of everything we’ve seen, heard, and felt across our lives. It influences how we lead, who we empathise with, and what we notice — and don’t.
But here’s the catch: lived experience isn’t just what you personally went through. It includes:
🧬 What you inherited from your family
📺 The narratives passed down through media and culture
🏫 The stories you were never told, and the people you never encountered
This matters because our lived experience forms the baseline of our leadership. It shapes the assumptions we make about:
- Whose voices we listen to
- What “normal” looks like
- Who gets the benefit of the doubt
And when we’re not intentional, it can limit inclusion.
For example:
🤝 Just having a friend, partner, or colleague from a marginalised group doesn’t mean you fully understand their challenges.
🧠 Even people who’ve experienced marginalisation in one form can unknowingly reinforce it in another.
Inclusive leadership means recognising that we all have gaps in our knowledge — and we all need help filling these in.
So what can you do?
✅ Reflect on what you learned growing up about identity, fairness, and difference
✅ Diversify your networks and friendship groups
✅ Stay curious and ask open questions
✅ Accept that your lived experience isn’t the universal truth — and that’s okay
