Leadership

Leadership isn’t a title.

You can be at the bottom of an org chart and still be a leader.

After 15+ years leading teams…
I’ve learned the uncomfortable truth:

Power moves aren’t what make great leaders

These 10 qualities do:

Listening
↳ It’s not about waiting for your turn to speak
↳ You’d be amazed at what people tell you when you truly listen

Empathy
↳ Stop trying to be right all the time
↳ Start trying to understand why others feel right
↳ The gap between perspectives is where solutions live

Adaptability
↳ Your perfect plan will face challenges. Guaranteed
↳ Success isn’t about having the right strategy – it’s about pivoting faster than everyone else

Dedication
↳ Show up consistently. Especially when it’s hard
↳ Your team doesn’t just need your inspiration – they need your presence

Ethics
↳ Shortcuts are tempting. They always are
↳ But trust takes years to build and seconds to break. Choose wisely

Respect
↳ Treat the intern with the same respect as the CEO
↳ Because titles don’t determine value, actions do

Support
↳ Your job isn’t to shine. It’s to help others shine brighter
↳ Effective leaders are the ones you barely notice

Humility
↳ You’re going to make mistakes. Often
↳ Admit it quickly, learn from it immediately, and move forward deliberately

Inclusion
↳ Different voices aren’t nice to have – they’re essential
↳ If everyone in your room thinks alike, you’re in the wrong room

Patience
↳ Meaningful change takes time and patience
↳ The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago
↳ The second-best time? Today