The Hardest Part of Leadership? It’s Not About You. Ya Feel Me?

I’m happy about recent world events. Let’s go!

What We Get Wrong About Being in Charge

When we think of a leader, we often picture someone at the front of the room, holding the microphone, making the big decisions. We see the captain of the team, the president of the student council, or the person in charge of a group project. It’s easy to think leadership is all about being the star.

Here is an important and difficult secret to leadership. It’s not about you. Ya’ll better believe that!

The Empathy Advantage

The most powerful tool a leader can have isn’t a loud voice or the best ideas. It’s empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand what someone else is feeling, to try and walk a mile in their shoes. It’s about pausing your own thoughts to truly listen to theirs.

Empathy in Action

Think about a school project. A self-focused leader might just assign tasks and get angry when someone falls behind. They worry about their own grade and how the final product makes them look.

An empathetic leader does something different. They notice the quiet teammate who seems confused but is afraid to ask for help.

They don’t shake the hands of leader involved in the process, pat them on the back and then praise the person with the bigger wallet!

They make allies…

They might pull them aside and say, “Hey, this part is tricky. Do you want to work on it together?” They listen when a teammate is stressed about a test in another class and offer to help them catch up later.

The Payoff: A Stronger Team

This kind of leadership builds trust.

It makes people feel seen and valued, not like they are just tools to get a job done. When a team feels supported, they work harder, share their best ideas, and aren’t afraid to make mistakes. They become stronger together.

So, the next time you find yourself in charge of something, big or small, take a moment. Instead of asking,

“How can I look good?”,

ask yourself,

“What does my team need?”

True leadership isn’t about shining the spotlight on yourself; it’s about making sure everyone on the team has a chance to shine.

I’m all about EMPATHY, we need more of it. I’m not scared of it and YOU shouldn’t be either.