You don’t have to be brilliant
There's this nagging idea that's probably been gnawing at you - the thought that you need to be the smartest person in every room you walk into. Well, I'm here to tell you that's a load of nonsense.
Think about the leaders who've truly inspired you. Were they walking encyclopedias? Probably not. They were the ones who made you feel seen, heard, and valued. The ones who could rally the troops when the chips were down.
Here's the kicker - leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about having the guts to admit when you don't know something and the wisdom to find someone who does. It's about rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty alongside your team.
You want to know the real secret to leadership? It's not brilliance - it's heart. It's about connecting with people on a level that goes beyond spreadsheets and quarterly reports. It's about understanding that Janet from accounting isn't just a number cruncher, but a single mom who's working her tail off to give her kids a better life.
Leadership is messy. It's uncomfortable. Sometimes, it means making decisions that'll keep you up at night. But that's the price of the ticket, folks. If you're not willing to lose a little sleep, maybe the leadership gig isn't for you.
So, the next time you feel like an imposter because you don't have all the answers, take a deep breath. Remember that your team doesn't need you to be Einstein. They need you to be human. They need you to listen, to care, to make the tough calls when no one else will.
Stop trying to be brilliant. Start trying to be real. That's where true leadership begins.