They Don’t Care What You Know Until You Show You Care
Do you care about your team? Do they know that you care? Or are you so focused on tasks that you forget to build relationships with the people you lead? If you don't take the time to truly know the people around you, you’re not leading—you’re just managing. People want to be seen and valued for who they are. As leaders, it’s our responsibility to carve out time to connect with them.
Nobody wants to follow a leader who thrives on title and ego. If you don’t care for your team, you probably shouldn’t be leading them. Leadership isn’t about authority—it’s about relationships. People are complex, and no two are alike. To lead effectively, you must take the time to understand each person individually. Everyone has a desire to be known, so make your team feel seen and valued.
Show People You Care No Matter How Hard It Is
To lead others, you have to care about them first. The moment someone realizes you genuinely care, everything changes. That said, showing you care isn’t always easy. As John C. Maxwell puts it, “Your greatest times and fondest memories will come because of people, but so will your most difficult, hurting, and tragic times.”
People are challenging, but the key is to keep caring no matter what. Empathy is critical in leadership. You have to intentionally develop empathy, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. The world is made up of 8 billion other people, each with a unique story you likely know nothing about. When you try to understand those stories, even the difficult or frustrating ones, you’ll often find that your heart softens, and you’ll care more about people and less about your agenda.
Serve Others
“You can serve your people and still be their leader. You don’t lose your position when you change your posture. Besides, real leadership isn’t position anyway—it’s influence. You can influence others from below just as easily as from above, and by doing so, everyone wins.” – John C. Maxwell.
Leadership is often a thankless job. Sometimes, you’re not the hero of the story—and that’s okay. The best leaders let others shine. Be the guide in their story, not the hero. When you allow your team to be the heroes, it lifts them. I’ve found the greatest fulfillment in seeing others succeed, both at work and in life. It’s not about me—it’s about them. I love watching people win and become the best version of themselves. That’s what leadership is all about helping others shine.
Leadership Is Action, Not Position
Leadership may come with a title, but it has to be earned. No one wants to follow a leader who is obsessed with their title. It’s not enough to say, “I’m the boss.” What matters is how you lead. Leadership means walking alongside your team, showing them you care, and guiding them forward.
You can have the title, the office, and the salary, but if you don’t show your team that you care, none of it matters. True leadership is recognizing that your position is an opportunity to serve. “You’ve got to love your people more than your position.” – John C. Maxwell. Leadership requires intentional action, and intentionality is the key to effective leadership.
At its core, leadership is about service, empathy, and intentionality. It’s simple in theory but challenging in practice. We often know what we should do—serve others, love the difficult people, and take intentional action—but we don’t always follow through. If you aren’t practicing these principles, you’re doing a disservice to those you lead.
Finally, remember this: positional leadership—the title you hold—is the lowest level of leadership. People follow you because they have to, not because of what you’ve done for them. To change that, start by showing people how much you care—not how much you know.
