What Is True Leadership?
Many people define a great leader as someone who successfully guides their team to achieve their collective goals. While I acknowledge the importance of this aspect of leadership, I personally believe that what truly sets a great leader apart is their ability to deeply understand people and create an environment where individuals feel both secure and challenged to reach their full potential.
In essence, great leaders positively influence the lives of those they lead. Regardless of gender, these leaders possess similar qualities that contribute to their greatness.
Throughout my career journey from being a subordinate to a leader, I’ve encountered both failure and success. I’ve observed, analyzed, learned, and evolved. Have I made mistakes along the way? Absolutely, as no great leader is without fault. However, it’s through these experiences that we learn and continue to grow as leaders.
Even after 20 years, there’s a picture hanging on my wall—a simple gift from one of my former subordinates during my Corporate America days. It may not catch anyone’s eye, but the handwritten note on the back remains etched in my memory: “You changed my life for the better, and I will never forget you.”
Leadership is often a thankless role, but it’s these small moments of appreciation that fuel us. It’s about guiding individuals to unlock their potential and achieve greatness. Great leaders are driven by the opportunity to make a positive impact, one person at a time, and unite them to work as a cohesive team towards shared goals.
Ultimately, the team’s success is a natural outcome of consistently doing right by each individual, day in and day out.
It’s about fostering an environment where every person can thrive, and collectively, they can achieve remarkable things.
Joe’s Story
One of the most impactful lessons I learned as a young leader occurred on the day I had to let go of one of my favorite team members, Joe. Joe was a genuinely nice person, beloved by everyone on the team, often acting as the glue that held us together. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, Joe struggled to meet his sales targets for eight consecutive months.
I worked closely with Joe, offering support, guidance, and even accompanying him in the field to help close deals. However, it became clear that Joe wasn’t thriving in his sales role, despite our collective efforts. My manager, the Vice President of the division, and I both knew what needed to be done, but I dreaded the inevitable outcome.
The decision was made for me to let Joe go the next morning. I spent the entire night agonizing over it, knowing it would be one of the toughest tasks I’d ever face as a leader. The following morning, I arrived at the office early, and as soon as Joe arrived, I called him into the Vice President’s office to deliver the news. It was a heart-wrenching moment for both of us, and tears were shed as I tried my best to convey my sincerity and empathy.
The Vice President remained silent throughout the encounter, offering only a handshake as Joe left to pack up his belongings. It was undoubtedly one of the lowest points of my leadership journey. I couldn’t shake the image of Joe going home to his wife, feeling like I had failed him.
Several months later, I returned to the office after a day in the field to find Joe waiting in the lobby. I braced myself for what I assumed would be a confrontation, but instead, Joe approached me with open arms and asked if we could talk. Confused, I led him to my office.
To my surprise, Joe thanked me. He expressed gratitude for freeing him from a situation where he felt like a constant disappointment. He shared how, since leaving, he had found success and fulfillment in a customer support role, exceeding all expectations and feeling like a true leader in his new position.
As Joe spoke, I struggled to maintain my composure. In that moment, I realized that leadership isn’t always about making popular decisions; sometimes, it requires making difficult choices that keep you awake at night. Joe’s journey taught me a profound lesson about the impact of leadership and the importance of making tough decisions for the greater good, even when they’re painful in the moment.
Too often, aspiring leaders invest their time in emulating other successful figures rather than forging their own paths and speaking in their authentic voices.
The age-old debate persists: are leaders born or made? While some argue that leadership can be cultivated in anyone, I personally disagree. I believe that effective leaders possess innate qualities that require refinement through experience, trial and error, and candid feedback from mentors who provide unfiltered insights.
Throughout my journey in leadership, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside many emerging leaders and guiding them as they evolve into the remarkable leaders they are today. I’ve observed that numerous female leaders often feel compelled to adopt a different leadership style than their natural inclination dictates, fearing they may be perceived as weak compared to their male counterparts.
It’s with this awareness that I initiated the “Her Way to Lead” leadership coaching program, aimed at empowering female leaders to embrace their unique strengths and lead authentically.
