Day 29: Who Do People Say You Are?

In Matthew 16:13-15 (NLT), Jesus has a fascinating conversation with His disciples:

“[13] When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’
[14] ‘Well,’ they replied, ‘some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.’
[15] Then he asked them, ‘But who do you say I am?’”

This exchange has always intrigued me. Jesus, the perfect leader validated by God, performs miracles, speaks truth, and fulfills prophecy, and then asks, “Who do people say I am?” Why would He ask that? Why would He care?

It's a good question, and it leads us to a key leadership insight: Even Jesus modeled the importance of feedback.

He didn’t ask because He was insecure. He asked to gauge perception and reveal identity. That’s something great leaders do.

Why Feedback Matters

We often hear that feedback is essential to leadership, and it is. It helps us learn, adapt, grow, and become more impactful. But to really benefit, we have to ask ourselves:

1. Do you receive feedback?

Do you have systems in place to gather input from those who live, work, or serve with you? Don’t rely on your instincts alone. Build feedback into your leadership rhythm.

2. Do you receive feedback?

No, that’s not a typo. This time I mean: How do you respond to the feedback you get?
Does your body language and tone communicate openness?
Do you reflect on what’s shared without getting defensive?
Do you apply it?

3. Who is giving you feedback?

Listen for trends across three groups: your supervisors, your peers, and the people you lead. Each voice matters, but the common threads are especially worth noting.

Receiving, internalizing, and acting on feedback is a lifelong process. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership, so remain flexible, not malleable.

Personal Reflection

Just this week, I met with some new people to explore a collaborative opportunity. I walked in confidently and authentically—just being myself. That’s always been my approach. I strive to be empathetic, team-first, and passionate.

Before the meeting, I rehearsed my responses, practiced my tone and body language, and tried to strike a balance between prepared and personable. After a series of meetings, I told someone I gave myself a B+. I could have answered a few questions more effectively or provided additional context.

Then came the feedback.

“You’re confident, charismatic, doing great things with your brand, and you’ve got a big personality…but all of that can be your fatal flaw. You need to be more humble. The team comes before you.”

Ouch.

In trying to present myself as confident and collaborative, I came across as self-centered. That hit me like a ton of bricks.

In that moment, I had a choice: get defensive…or grow. I chose growth. After sitting with it for a day, I developed a plan to refine my pitch and refocus on demonstrating humility and servant leadership.

Foundational Truth

Jesus knew who He was, but He still asked, “Who do people say I am?” Why? Because perception isn’t a verdict, but it is a snapshot of how others experience us.

We shouldn’t obsess over public opinion, but we shouldn’t dismiss it, either. The goal is not to shape our identity based on others’ views, but to understand how we’re perceived, so we can better represent Christ and love others well.

Final Thought

Feedback is not just a nice-to-have or a leadership tip. It’s a requirement for growth in wisdom, humility, and Christlikeness.

So I’ll ask you what Jesus asked His disciples:
Who do people say you are?
And even more importantly…
Who do you say you are?