The Hardest Leadership Lesson Came from My 7-Year-Old
You’re going to screw it up.
And you’re going to feel like crap.
Even when you lead with heart.
Even when you try your best.
Leading well isn’t about getting it right every time.
It’s about what you do right after you get it wrong.
I coach leaders for a living. I spend my days in high-stakes conversations helping others navigate growth, conflict, and complex decision-making. But some of the most powerful leadership lessons don’t show up in boardrooms or coaching calls.
They show up in moments like this.
Even Great Leaders Fall
Being a parent is leadership in its rawest form.
You don’t get performance reviews. You get sticky notes written in crayon.
You get mirror reflections of your best and worst moments.
You get grace if you’re honest enough to earn it.
I had messed up. Raised my voice. Reacted too fast.
The moment passed, but it sat heavy on me.
So I walked into her room that night, sat on the edge of her bed, and apologized.
I told her I was wrong. That I was tired, and frustrated, and none of that made it okay.
She listened quietly. Then smiled and handed me the note she had already written.
“It is ok we all make mstase even you mom I love you so much you are my fafrit mom ever.”
That single sentence hit harder than any leadership book I’ve read.
Not just because of what it said.
But because of what it reflected back to me.
That’s what humility earns you.
The Leadership Lesson
You can’t lead well without getting it wrong sometimes.
But you can lead well by owning it.
Don’t fake it.
Don’t hide behind your title or your temper.
Don’t pretend it didn’t happen.
Say it.
I messed that up.
I’m sorry.
Here’s how I want to do better.
That’s leadership.
That’s the kind that builds loyalty.
The kind that creates culture.
The kind your team (and your kids) will remember.
For the Leaders at Work and at Home
I’m grateful every day to be part of so many leadership journeys.
But the ones inside my own home? Those are the ones I hold closest.
Not because I always get it right.
But because I’m committed to showing up honestly when I don’t.
That’s the kind of leadership that sticks.
2025