There are moments that stay with you – not because they were planned or perfect, but because they were startlingly different. Early in my leadership journey, I encountered one such moment during an interview. To this day, it remains a vivid reminder of how boldness, self-awareness, and the willingness to recalibrate can redefine the course of an interaction and leave a lasting impression.
It began like any other conversation. We were just a few minutes into the initial interview when I could sense the conversation wasn’t hitting its stride. There was something slightly off, not wrong, necessarily, but not quite right either. I wasn’t overly surprised when the candidate politely asked to wrap up early. What came next, however, was anything but expected.
He didn’t simply end the interview and leave it at that. Instead, he openly admitted that he needed to prepare differently. He expressed continued interest in the opportunity and asked, with a calm and confident resolve, if we could try again the next day.
I was caught off guard. This wasn’t the script I had in mind. Interviews, after all, are structured and linear affairs where mistakes can be fatal, not recalibrated. But something about his approach – a blend of humility, clarity, and boldness – made me pause. I agreed to the reset, though not without curiosity about how he would approach our next conversation.
When we reconvened the next day, the difference was night and day. The candidate arrived with a sharper focus, clearer articulation, and an evident readiness for the moment. He was outstanding, and it was clear that he had taken the time to reflect, adapt, and approach the conversation with a new mindset. But what truly stood out to me wasn’t just how well he performed the second time, it was the courage and self-awareness he had shown in pausing the first conversation.
In retrospect, that moment reshaped my thinking about moments and occasions. It taught me something about the power of reframing and recalibrating. As an interviewer, I had entered the conversation prepared to see it through to its conclusion, no matter how it unfolded. But it was this candidate who had the clarity and courage to step back, and chart a better path forward. There was a clear recognition that pushing through wasn’t the best course of action. His actions reflected not only confidence but also a deep respect for the opportunity and for himself.
Many people I’ve shared this story with have doubted its authenticity. Perhaps it feels too unconventional to be real. It is a break from the rigid norms we usually associate with interviews. Yet, that’s precisely why it remains so powerful to me. It defies the expectations of how we think success is achieved. We often assume that the first impression is our only chance, but this experience underscores that what happens after the first impression can be just as, if not more, important.
This is a story about audacity, yes, but also about humility. The candidate’s decision to pause and restart wasn’t driven by arrogance, rather it was grounded in an honest assessment of the situation and a belief that he could do better. That kind of self-awareness is rare. It’s easier to either double down on a failing approach or walk away entirely. The harder path is to acknowledge the need for change and then take the steps to make it happen.
As for me, I learned an equally important lesson that day. While the candidate showed boldness in asking for a second chance, it required just as much from me to give it. Leadership, after all, isn’t just about holding others to a standard, it’s as much about being open to the unexpected, about recognizing when an unconventional move has merit. It’s about being willing to reframe your perspective in real-time, even when it’s inconvenient.
This experience shaped how I approach interviews and other critical conversations. It continues to remind me that human interactions are fluid and unpredictable. Sometimes, the best outcomes arise not from sticking to the script but from being willing to rewrite it on the fly.
As we step into 2025, this experience continues to serve as a call to action. It reminds me that boldness isn’t about getting everything right the first time. It’s about the willingness to pause, rethink, and try again with intention and purpose. Whether you’re the one being evaluated or the one making the evaluation, never underestimate the power of a shift in mindset to change the outcome.
And above all, never be afraid to meet boldness with boldness. You might just find that it opens doors you never expected.