One stitch at a time.

I'm publishing this article a bit early because tomorrow, my mom and I are hitting the road to visit her brother and sister. The inspiration behind this piece comes from my mom's lifelong love of quilting—a passion she’s nurtured for over 30 years.

Leadership, like quilting, can be hard to define. At its core, a quilt is meant to protect and insulate; in the same way, leadership is there to solve problems and drive towards a goal. But just as a quilt is more than scraps of fabric stitched together, good leadership is more than just reaching an objective.

Quilting is a deeply layered craft that can be done alone or with others. Each quilt has different components that come together to fulfill its purpose. The back of a quilt looks different from the front, yet they’re connected by color, theme, and a binding that holds it all together. The middle layer, or batting, provides warmth and protection. Quilters often use scraps from old clothes or blankets, stitching them into patterns or images often as a reflection of the quilter. Each individual scrap has its own texture, color, and story. Then, there's the stitching itself—often a unique pattern used to hold the quilt’s layers together, frequently stitched by hand with incredible patience and passion. A quilt’s value far exceeds its warmth; creating it also enriches the quilter, challenging their creativity and problem-solving skills, and often connecting them to a community of fellow crafters.

So, how does quilting mirror effective leadership? Leadership, too, has layers, each with a purpose. There’s the practical base of experience and knowledge—the “backing” that grounds a team. Then, like batting, there’s the support and protection leaders provide to help the team thrive. Leadership also has a creative side, embracing the unique "scraps" that each team member brings. Just as those fabric scraps might seem unnecessary at first, the talents and perspectives of each team member can enrich the team’s final product. But, like a quilt, leadership also requires boundaries—the “binding” that holds the work together and gives it form. And at its best, leadership stitches all the elements of a team together into something that achieves its goals, while also reflecting the individual contributions that make it unique.

Both quilting and leadership can be solo efforts or collaborative projects. They’re each made up of many individual pieces that serve their purpose while contributing to a greater whole. A well-made quilt, like a strong team, has a legacy that endures, often outlasting its creator(s).

So, how are you contributing to your team’s “quilt”? Are you bringing your whole self—quirks and all? Do you provide knowledge and experience that others can build on? How do you support your colleagues? Are you attentive to the team's boundaries? Are you finding ways to connect the unique “scraps” that each person brings to create something meaningful?

If you want to be a great leader, start by being a supportive base, a strong binding, or a protective batting. But most importantly, bring your whole self to the process, and encourage others to do the same. In doing so, you’ll craft something enduring—a truly great quilt, a truly great team.