The Power of Neutral Leadership: Avoiding the Priming Trap

As a leader, your ability to remain neutral and grounded can define how you navigate challenging situations. Avoiding the priming trap is essential to maintaining fairness and objectivity in leadership. Not long ago, I coached a principal from New York who shared a powerful lesson during an onboarding experience with a new staff member. Initially, she’d heard concerns and whispers about this individual—worries that subtly shaped her perception before the two even began working together. Unfortunately, this priming effect led her to approach the new member with a clouded lens.

Avoiding the priming trap as a leader

Weeks later, during a follow-up coaching session, the principal admitted how guilty she felt for allowing those external narratives to influence her initial interactions. Upon giving the new staff member a fair chance, she discovered their true potential and dedication—something the gossip had failed to reflect.

This story is an important reminder: as a leader, you must vigilantly check in with yourself. Are you walking into situations with preconceived notions? Are you letting gossip or others’ negative energy dictate your decisions? Leadership requires the discipline to pause, assess, and respond thoughtfully.

In our session, I guided this principal through strategies to reframe such situations in the future. Instead of being swept away by emotions or gossip, we practiced ways to redirect conversations and maintain focus on personal observations and gut instincts.

This isn’t an uncommon scenario—I’ve seen it countless times in my coaching practice. Leaders often get caught in the emotional whirlwind of their environments, forgetting the value of pausing to reflect. The next time you face a similar situation, ask yourself: “Am I letting external voices overshadow my judgment?” Trust your ability to lead with fairness and integrity, allowing others to show who they truly are.

If you need help navigating these types of situations, then check out the 1:1 coaching bundles I offer. Together, we’ll work on strategies to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and integrity, ensuring you can tackle challenges head-on and foster a positive, productive environment.