Everyone leads in some area of their life. Leadership, at its core, is about navigating through uncertainties and leading the charge towards a vision of the future. However, this vision does not materialize through leaps alone but is built upon myriad steps, decisions, and adjustments that accumulate over time. When leading a team, you will inevitably have to navigate different communication styles, personalities, and ways of getting things done. When dealing with humans as a part of that team, no matter how cohesive that team is, it is inevitable that there will be some sort of conflict. Conflict is not necessarily a bad thing if it can be directed to productive outcomes. It is a fine balance though.

Crucial conversations if not handled correctly, can cause more harm than good. Each one of these incremental steps and crucial conversations that come with those steps requires decision making. With decision making comes the impact those decisions have on others. Some say your gut instinct is there for a reason, and it is rarely wrong. Others say that to make any important decisions, one must ensure they are taking the time to navigate the critical thinking process meticulously to ensure all outcomes and nuances are considered. I would say that being leader means valuing continuous improvement over sporadic leaps and recognizing that resilience is built through consistent, small steps forward.

I firmly believe that acknowledging the significance of these incremental changes requires a paradigm shift in the leadership mindset. When I go to work each day, there are two goals I have no matter what.

1. Everything that comes to me that can be addressed immediately, will be addressed immediately. In my experience, about half of the requests, concerns I see fall into this category. The other half requires a more strategic approach.

2. I focus on the 1% principle. Some days are better than others, but as long as there has been some sort of incremental improvement that day for my team, no matter how small, I celebrate that victory.

I have refereed to this in a previous blog but this approach aligns with the Japanese concept of kaizen, which emphasizes continuous, incremental improvement in processes. By leaning into this philosophy, leaders can foster an environment where every small step is valued and seen as a building block for future success.

There are thousands of leadership principles and no matter how you slice it, leadership is a tough but rewarding process. It is up to you to navigate yourself and others through the trials that come with growth and progress. It is also up to you to intentionally celebrate the victories that come after obstacles.

It is a guarantee that obstacles and victories go hand in hand. You absolutely cannot have one without the other. At the end of the day, you must keep everything in perspective. You rent your title; you own your character.