Vulnerably sharing leadership setbacks and lessons normalizes that becoming a great leader takes work, training and pracitce. It’s our stories that connect us to foster inclusivity, belonging, and growth.

After a few weeks on the job a new team member told me she had passed out at home and had fallen in the bathroom. The doctor told her she was exhausted because the stress level of her work environment was too high.

I was early in my career and was leading the team. At the time I thought, some people aren’t cut out for this. It felt like a badge of honor for those who could keep up with the pace. Our team became known as the model for strategic partnership and flawless execution. What wasn’t known was the toxicity of unrealistic, unsustainable expectations that I set for myself which were projected onto others. I felt the need to prove our team's value so I would feel valued and belonging. I was recognized and rewarded for short-term results, but the results weren’t sustainable because of turnover in the team. What we recognize and reward as organizations is what we will get more of.

If we recognize only the short-term results and ignore the burn and turn environment, the results will eventually tumble.

As I am reflecting on this time in my career, it’s NOT something I’m proud of. I should have set stronger work boundaries. I should have made more realistic deadlines. I should have advocated for more resources, or different ways of working. I should have put my care for the people at the forefront. The team deserved a better leader than I was at that time.  

Sometimes we need to make epic mistakes and face the hard truth to learn.

I humbly share this as part of my leadership growth journey. From that point forward, I committed to becoming the best leader I could be. I invested in coaching, mentoring, leadership development programs and 360 feedback. I learned how to create work environments where no one needed to prove their value or earn their belonging. I focused on the people first and the results took care of themselves.

I bring my story to you, not as a tale of missteps, but as a beacon for humility and growth. Vulnerably sharing leadership setbacks and lessons normalizes that becoming a great leader takes practice, feedback, and support from others. Sharing what went wrong can help others avoid painful mistakes in their own leadership journey.

To expand your leadership impact, I urge you to step forward and do these two things:

1. Find opportunities to authentically share your own stories of leadership trials, setbacks and lessons learned. It’s our stories that connect us to foster inclusivity, belonging, and growth.

   
   

2. Invest in your leadership growth. Whether you're a CEO or a new supervisor, growing as a leader is never done.

The soul of true leadership stems from heart and humanity to create workplaces where everyone can be themselves so they can do their best.

"If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously." Romans 12:8