Making Room

Written By Miya C

On Leadership Lessons from Both Sides of the Table,  Radical Honesty, Accountability, and the Cost of Control

In a Season of Regroup

As a freelancer, contractor, and founder, I’ve sat on both sides, as an employee and as an owner. Leading Sunday & Co, with the slogan “A seat at the table for everyone,” has forced me to reflect not just on the kind of brand I’m building, but on the kind of leader I’m becoming.

The past few months since launching Sunday & Co. in April of this year have been a real test. I launched Sunday & Co. with optimism, strategy, and a lot of heart. I wanted this brand, my brand, to stand for more than just marketing plans or deliverables. I wanted it to feel like a living room: open, intentional, built for honest conversation, and safe enough for creative risk. But in the day-to-day, it’s easy to get caught up in output, client demands, and deliverable deadlines. It’s easy to forget that “a seat at the table for everyone” isn’t just a slogan; it’s a daily practice.

As the sole strategist and executor behind the brand, I’ve had to ask myself tough questions:

  • Am I providing clarity, honesty, and integrity through my work?

  • Am I holding space that fosters growth for clients, for collaborators, and for myself?

  • Are my processes, from onboarding to execution, built to support excellence, not just output?

Some days, I can answer yes. But honestly, there have been plenty of days when the answer is “not always.” That’s uncomfortable to admit, but it’s the truth, and it’s part of the lesson.

Accountability isn’t just about claiming the wins; it’s about owning the moments when things fall short.

But it also means standing up when things truly don’t work out, even when it stings. Sometimes, accountability looks like accepting when a contract has to end earlier than expected, no matter how much time, energy, or intention I put in. Sometimes it means providing a refund when the work doesn’t meet expectations, even if it feels uncomfortable or vulnerable. It’s not about protecting my ego, it’s about doing right by my clients and the brand I’m building. These aren’t easy decisions.

As a leader, I’ve learned that taking responsibility means more than sending a client update or apologizing for a missed deadline. It’s a radical honesty with myself: Did I set clear expectations? Did I offer real guidance and support? Did I hold space for collaboration, not just correction?

If “a seat at the table for everyone” is truly what I want Sunday & Co. to stand for, then that seat has to exist for me, too. For the days when I get it wrong. For the moments where I need to step back, regroup, and reimagine what better could look like. Building meaningful client relationships isn’t about being perfect; it’s about self-advocacy, boundaries, and showing up honestly, even when it’s hard. Real transparency is messy. Sometimes it means difficult conversations, letting go of what’s not working, or giving back what was paid in trust. But those are the moments that build real trust, the kind you can’t buy or fake. And if I’m asking clients and collaborators to trust me with their vision, the least I can do is trust myself enough to admit when I fall short and make it right.

Results, Control, and the Human Cost

Companies, clients, and leaders want results. That’s valid. We all want to see growth, engagement, sales, and momentum. But chasing control over outcomes, over people, over the process, without acknowledging the human cost, isn’t the kind of space I want Sunday & Co. to be.

It’s easy, especially in creative and client service industries, to equate leadership with “surviving pressure” or making the so-called “tough calls.” But I’ve realized that true leadership isn’t just about what gets done; it’s about how those decisions land on the people around us. The impact is never just on the spreadsheet or in the KPIs;  it’s in the energy of your team, the mood of your clients, and the creative risks people feel safe taking.

If we say we value transparency, collaboration, or community, our actions should match. Otherwise, it’s just performance, and people can tell.

We’re all quick to say:

  • “The results weren’t there.”

  • “Things were delayed.”

  • “The work didn’t meet expectations.”

But do we stop to ask ourselves:

  • Did I provide clear guidelines?

  • Did I set my team (or myself) up for success?

  • Was there room for dialogue and support, not just deadlines and deliverables?

The Full Picture

This isn’t to say performance issues don’t exist; they do, and I’ve experienced them both as the one accountable and as the one affected. But true leadership means examining the full picture, not just pointing fingers or assigning blame. It means being willing to look at process, context, and communication, not just the end result.

To lead without that reflection is to practice avoidant leadership, to hide behind authority instead of using it to build something better. That’s not what I want for myself, my brand, or anyone who pulls up a chair at Sunday & Co.

Validity vs. Authenticity

Because here’s the truth: validity and authenticity are not the same. Our perspectives may be valid, our stories, our reasons, and our explanations may all be “real” and grounded in our experiences. But so are the experiences of the people we hire, collaborate with, or lead. Validity can exist on both sides, but authenticity demands something deeper: a willingness to see the whole story, not just our piece of it.

If we’re creating space for feedback, it can’t only be one-sided. Leaders, founders, creatives, contractors, we all owe each other a little more grace, a little more room for honesty, and a lot more willingness to regroup when things don’t go as planned.

Coming Back to the Table

So, as I reintroduce Sunday & Co., and myself, back to the conversation, this is where I’m starting. Not with a list of wins or a perfectly polished brand update, but with an honest reflection of what it really means to regroup.

Leadership, at its best, is a seat at the table for everyone, including yourself. It’s a slow process in a loud world, and sometimes, the most radical thing you can do is pause, reflect, and let yourself start again.

If you’re navigating leadership, building something new, or just trying to make space for yourself and others, I’d love to hear your story. What does regrouping look like for you? How do you make space for honesty and accountability in your work? Let’s keep the table open.

🤎 Ready to pull up a chair?

If Sunday & Co.’s approach resonates with you, and you’re ready to bring more honesty, strategy, and care into your brand, let’s connect. There are a few ways to start the conversation:

However you choose to reach out, I look forward to connecting and helping you build something real, at your own pace, and in your own way.

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Sunday & Co. is about slow strategy, honest creativity, and building brands that hold space for everyone. If you want to keep up, subscribe to The Sunday Brunch for weekly essays, strategy, and reflections,  all served with care.

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Miya   Founder of Sunday & Co.   Your host at The Sunday Brunch

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💻Check Out the Website: https://www.sundayandcompany.co

💌Send Us an Email: hello@sundayandcompany.co

Miya C
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