Great leadership isn’t having a fancy corner office, impressive job title or even managing a big team. Nope. Great leadership is something much more intimate, much more powerful.
It starts with you.
Specifically, what you have to offer others to inspire and encourage them to deliver their best self. This feels like an impossible ask. Only those born with this special sauce must be great leaders, right? Except that’s not true. Great leadership, like anything, comes from practice and consistency.
Which means the foundation of a great leader begins with self-development.
The Foundation of Great Leadership: Taking Yourself On First
Imagine you're building a house. You wouldn't start with the roof, would you? Of course not! You'd start with the foundation. And that's exactly where leadership begins—you! You are the foundation upon which everything else is built.
True leadership development begins when you commit to taking yourself on first.
What does that actually mean? It means:
- Honing your own skills (even when no one's watching)
- Clarifying your vision (getting crystal clear on where you're headed)
- Strengthening your inner game (building that unshakeable confidence and resilience)
Think of yourself as a garden. Before you can help anyone else grow, you've got to tend to your own soil first. You've got to pull your own weeds, water your own roots, and make sure you're getting enough sunlight. When you step into that empowered space within yourself, something magical happens.
The Ripple Effect: From You to Your World
Picture dropping a pebble into a still pond. What happens? Ripples. Beautiful, expanding ripples that move outward in perfect circles, touching everything in their path.
That's exactly what happens when you commit to developing yourself as a leader.
First, that positive energy overflows into your home, creating more peace, more intention, more presence with the people who matter most. You become the person who stops to really see your family members, who listens with your whole heart, who brings calm into chaos.
Then, those ripples expand into your professional life—into your workplace, your business, your community. You start showing up differently. More grounded. More authentic. More powerful.
And here's what I love most: this ripple effect offers you a profound sense of freedom on so many levels. Freedom from self-doubt. Freedom from people-pleasing. Freedom to lead from your authentic power. Freedom to make the impact you were meant to make.
Leading as ONE: The Power of Collective Potential
Now, if you've been hanging around with me for any time at all, you know I'm all about the no-nonsense approach. So let's talk real talk about leadership in action.
Leadership isn't a solo sport. It's a team game.
Think about your favorite sports team for a moment. Or a symphony orchestra. Or even a flock of birds moving together in perfect formation across the sky. There's something absolutely breathtaking about watching individuals come together as one unified force, isn't there?
That's because there's immense strength in numbers. But here's where the real magic happens: it's not just about having a bunch of people in the room. The transformation occurs when each individual works together as one, maximizing their unique human potential.
Seeing the Gold in Others
So how do you actually create that kind of synergy? How do you build a team (whether that's at work, at home, or in your community) that operates at that higher level?
You become the kind of leader who recognizes the incredible abilities people often don't see in themselves.
I'm talking about that hidden talent your colleague has but hasn't quite stepped into yet. That gift your friend possesses but downplays. That strength in yourself that you've been too scared to own.
Real leadership isn't about pointing out what's wrong. It's not about highlighting flaws or focusing on failures. Instead, it's about seeing the gold within people and lovingly guiding them towards developing those abilities through practice.
It's about being the person who says:
- "I see something special in you that you might not see yet."
- "Let me help you develop that."
- "I believe in what you're capable of becoming."
The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts
Here's a truth: the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts.
But—and this is the crucial piece that so many people miss—each part is a necessary component towards success.
Think about it like a puzzle. Every single piece matters. It doesn't matter if you're a corner piece or a middle piece. It doesn't matter if your colors are bold and vibrant or soft and subtle. Without YOUR piece, the picture is incomplete.
Every single person's unique talent, perspective, and effort is essential to building something truly extraordinary.
That's what real leadership looks like: empowering individuals to contribute their best, helping them see that their unique piece is vital to the collective win. When people feel seen, valued, and essential? That's when teams transform. That's when families thrive. That's when communities change.
Your 30-Day Leadership Challenge: Lead from Within
Okay, friend, this is where the rubber meets the road. Because knowledge without action is just information, right? And I know you're not here just to collect information—you're here to transform.
So I've got a challenge for you:
Over the next 30 days, where can you start leading yourself more intentionally?
Maybe it's:
- Committing to that morning routine you keep saying you'll start
- Finally setting those boundaries you know you need
- Speaking up in that meeting instead of staying silent
- Investing in that skill development you've been putting off
- Saying no to what drains you so you can say yes to what lights you up
And here's the second part of the challenge:
What hidden ability within your team (or even in yourself!) are you ready to help bring to light?
Is there someone on your team whose creativity is going untapped? A friend whose leadership potential is dormant? Or maybe it's your own ability—that thing you're really good at but have been too humble or too scared to fully own?
Let's make the next 30 days about:
- Intentional growth
- Building strength in numbers
- Truly shining as one powerful force
Because here's what I know to be true: when you commit to leading yourself first, when you see and develop the potential in others, when you create that ripple effect of positive transformation—that's when you step into the kind of leadership that doesn't just change businesses. It changes lives. Including your own.
Ready to Awaken Your Full Leadership Potential?
If you're reading this and thinking, "Yes! I'm ready to step into this kind of intentional self-leadership," then I've got something special for you.
I've created The Awakened Woman's Activation Guide, and it's completely free. This isn't just another PDF you'll download and forget about. This is a comprehensive transformation experience designed specifically for successful but disconnected women who are ready to reclaim their authentic power.
Here's what you'll receive:
✨ A comprehensive guidebook with daily practices focused on vision, voice, and value
✨ 30 days of email support to keep you motivated and accountable
✨ A bonus 5-minute daily ritual that fits into even the busiest schedule
Because I get it—you're already juggling a million things. This isn't about adding more overwhelm to your plate. This is about giving you simple, powerful practices that help you reconnect with who you really are and the leader you're meant to be.
Remember: leadership starts with you, but it's never just about you. It's about the ripple effect of transformation that touches everyone in your path.