Mirror, Mirror on the Wall—Am I the Best Leader of Them All?

Leadership is a funny thing. We spend so much time looking outward—analysing our teams, spotting inefficiencies, identifying gaps—that we sometimes forget to do one simple thing: look in the mirror.

Because let’s be honest, it’s much easier to focus on them than to ask, "What could I be doing better?"

The Leadership Blind Spot

We all have blind spots. Maybe it’s assuming that because we told our team something, they actually understood it. Maybe it’s assuming that because we find something obvious, it must be obvious to everyone else. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s believing that because we’ve been in the game a long time, we’ve already mastered the art of leadership.

But leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about growth—both for your team and yourself.

Empathy: The Secret Sauce of Leadership

In a world where experienced professionals are retiring faster than you can say "brain drain," the way we lead matters more than ever. The question isn’t just, "Is my team performing?" but "Am I setting them up to succeed?"

And that means leading with empathy. It means recognising that just because you had to figure it out the hard way, doesn’t mean your team should. It means seeing their struggles not as their failures, but as opportunities for you to step in and support, guide, and evolve.

Building Teams While Building Yourself

Think of leadership like a gym session (minus the sweat—unless you really love stressful meetings). You don’t get stronger by lifting the same weight forever. You improve by gradually pushing yourself further, learning new techniques, and yes—sometimes realising that your form is awful and needs correction.

It’s the same with leadership. If you’re not actively learning, listening, and evolving, you’re stagnating. Worse yet, you might be the bottleneck preventing your team from growing.

So instead of always asking, "Why aren’t they getting this?" try asking: ? "Have I given them the right tools?" ? "Am I making time for their development?" ? "Do I truly understand their challenges, or am I assuming?" ? "What’s one thing I could do differently to help them succeed?"

The Best Leaders Are Still Learning

At the end of the day, leadership isn’t about standing at the top shouting instructions. It’s about rolling up your sleeves, getting into the trenches, and growing with your team.

So here’s the challenge: take a moment to look in the mirror. Not to critique, but to reflect. What’s one thing you could do differently to support your team better?

Because in a world that’s changing faster than ever, the best leaders aren’t the ones who think they’ve got it all figured out. They’re the ones who never stop learning.

What’s something you’ve learned about leadership recently? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear your insights. ??