This past year has been, without question, one of the hardest seasons of my life — and also one of the most transformative. As someone who spends my days helping managers grow into better leaders, I've come to believe that the lessons that shape us most rarely show up in the ways we would expect. They show up in the messy, uncomfortable, real parts of life. Here's what this season taught me — and why I think every manager needs to hear it too.