This morning I sat-in on a call between a public relations specialist I work with and a retired gentleman who was a clear trailblazer in his industry. To put it in context, he retired a couple of years ago, and the global company he worked with has nominated him for a prestigious award with a notable trade publication. This man has accomplished a great deal over the span of his career - secured multiple technology patents, launched a first-of-its-kind research center, and headed up countless advisory boards and committees all dedicated to further advancement in his field.
The best part? He is the most humble, kind human who makes time for everyone. He doesn’t boast about his accomplishments, but seeks to serve those who want to learn.
During the interview he said two things that really stuck out to me: the first was about leadership. When asked about certain leadership principals he adopted during his long-spanning career, he said it was all about learning. No matter what he knew or how experienced he was, his intent was to “go into every situation thinking I don’t know anything.” He talked about how a learner’s mindset would ultimately lead to new insights, and new insights would unlock key things that could give you an edge.
The second thing that stood out to me was about mentorship - a topic I care a great deal about. And yes, I suppose mentorship goes hand-in-hand with leadership, but I think a lot of people miss that. They think leadership is about being in charge, power, prestige, etc. But that’s so far from the truth, which is why it was so refreshing to hear from a decorated leader who actually got it right.
When asked about his biggest accomplishments and what he was most proud of, he said, despite the awards and accolades, it was the people he mentored along the way who were just coming up in their careers; watching them grow, seeing them lead in the industry now - that’s what has really stuck with him all these years. And then he added, “I learned from every one of those people.”
This reminds me of parenting. As a parent, it’s my job to teach, lead by example, and show my kids a better way of living, decision making, etc. Even if I don’t get it right all the time, I have way more life experience than they do and they are learning from me.
But - and if you’re a parent you know exactly what I’m talking about - there are times in my life where my kids have been the very best teachers. They’ve mirrored my flaws back to me in a sometimes painful, but impactful way. They ask me questions that push me to think more deeply. They challenge me to show up for them in ways I never imagined. If I acted like I was the expert and had nothing to learn… well? I’d be missing out on something really special. (Perhaps some of us are?)
When it comes to leadership, mentorship, and the broad influence we hold whether by choice or circumstance, there is always something to learn and the people in our sphere of influence really matter.
Who is leading you?
Whether you hold a position of leadership or not, it’s safe to say you’re influencing someone AND someone (perhaps many) is influencing you.
Yesterday I spent a good deal of my day catching up on news, reading blogs, listening to podcasts between meetings and other work. I do this fairly regularly, but the mistake I made on this particular day was not setting a limit. To put it bluntly, I was over-consuming and at one point in the early afternoon I felt depleted, mentally stuck, and creatively uninspired. I couldn’t focus on any one topic and found myself jumping from one thing to the next because I couldn’t’ decide who I needed to be listening to.
Then I realized I needed to turn it all off. No more voices. No more noise. The distraction in my brain had reached an alarmingly loud volume and I couldn’t believe how my mind was responding. What was wrong with me?
As soon as I dialed it back, my senses started to return to me and I was reminded once again how discerning I need to be when it comes to who I allow to influence my time; and not just who, either, but how often. For me, the struggle of quantity is much harder than that of quality, so I must be careful about the amount I’m consuming because, as they say, you really can have too much of a good thing.
While it’s important to manage the mentors speaking into our own lives, it’s equally important (and rewarding!) to be regularly assessing and nurturing the people we find ourselves mentoring.
Becoming an influence for others
No matter what your age, experience, or place in life, I believe each of us are directly influencing others in our lives in some capacity.
Know the impact you’re making
It’s important for us to understand the weight of this in order to make a positive impact on others. If we go through life thinking our choices are our own and won’t impact anyone else, then all of our choices become self-serving to a fault. But if we realize that every choice directly impacts someone else and can even influence their own behaviors and decisions, we might think differently about our choices.
If you want to be a good leader, start by seeing the weight of your own influence and take care of those who look to you as an example.
Always be learning
Another step in leading others well points back to the story I told earlier about the gentleman in the interview. Always be learning and looking for opportunities to grow. Look at every relationship as a learning opportunity. You’ll be amazed at how others open up when they feel seen and are invited to offer their valuable contribution - especially from someone who is supposed to be teaching them!
Think of how communication with your children might change if they felt like their parents came to discussions with open ears and a willingness to learn from their child’s perspective. Think of how you might establish trust at work if your team feels they can come to you with concerns, ideas, etc., and they’ll be received with collaboration and support.
Approaching leadership as someone who doesn’t have it all figured it is a game-changer in every scenario.
Reflection Questions
How do you approach leadership in your own life? Do you see yourself as someone who is always learning, or do you find yourself feeling the need to have all the answers?
Who has been a significant mentor or leader in your life, and what lessons have they taught you? How has their influence shaped your own approach to leadership?
In what ways are you currently influencing others—whether at work, in your family, or in your community? How intentional are you about the impact you’re making?
Have you ever experienced a time when you over-consumed information or outside influence, like in the example I shared? How did it affect you, and what did you do to regain focus?
What are some practical ways you can create space for learning in your daily life—whether through mentorship, self-reflection, or meaningful conversations?
I would love to hear from you - let’s discuss! Click below and let me know your thoughts to any of the above questions.
As you reflect on these questions, I encourage you to take a moment to consider the influence you hold and the voices you’re allowing to shape your own path. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about being willing to learn, grow, and create space for meaningful connection.
Whether you’re guiding others or seeking guidance yourself, embracing a posture of curiosity and humility can open doors you never imagined or expected.
Until next time,
