Lessons in Leadership from a Lump of Clay
At a recent leadership workshop, I found myself standing in front of a pottery wheel—reluctantly. I hadn’t signed up expecting to create a beautiful piece of art from clay, but what unfolded during those two days surprised me in the best way. The experience wasn’t just about shaping bowls—it reshaped how I think about learning, feedback, and leadership.
Embracing the Messy Middle
Pottery is not my strong suit. I signed up mostly out of support for a talented friend—and a desire to stretch myself. As expected, my bowl was lopsided and far from flawless. But the instructor reassured me, calling it a “work of art” and celebrating its uniqueness. I tried to embrace that philosophy, even as I glanced around at the beautiful symmetry others achieved.
That’s when I realized something important:
Feedback isn’t just about fixing—it’s about framing our progress in a way that fuels learning.
Raku and Real-Time Learning
On day two, we finished our pieces using a technique called raku. After firing the pottery to over 1600°F, we dipped it into a staining solution and then quickly into cold water. Timing was everything—the longer in the solution, the darker the stain.
No one had tried this before. So what did we do?
We practiced.
We watched.
We learned—from each other.
Each person’s attempt taught the rest of us something. Even the act of observing became feedback in action. The process wasn’t just instructional—it was communal.
What This Has to Do with Leadership
As I watched others navigate the challenge, I was reminded that real-time feedback isn’t a solo pursuit. It thrives in community. In our teams, we often underestimate how much we learn just by watching, asking questions, and receiving timely guidance.
Feedback helps us:
Learn faster
Avoid repeated mistakes
Feel supported
Improve outcomes
Build trust
Whether you’re throwing clay or leading a team, feedback fuels effort, improvement, and even well-being.
Sometimes, the most unexpected settings offer the clearest lessons. In that studio, surrounded by clay and courage, I was reminded that great leadership isn’t about being flawless—it’s about being teachable, open to feedback, and willing to grow together.
Where could more real-time, supportive feedback create breakthroughs for you and your team?
