To be an exceptional leader, you must cultivate an open and adaptable mind—one that can move with agility and respond rather than react to the inevitable challenges that arise. Technical skill and knowledge may have earned you your leadership role, but they are not what will make people follow you. What truly inspires loyalty is an amiable, grounded mindset that others can trust.
Once you're in a leadership position, the spotlight should shift from your abilities to the abilities of those you lead. Great leaders see the strengths in others and empower their people to reach their potential. When we learn to step back and let others shine, we create space to use our own wisdom more strategically—gently guiding, influencing, and making decisions based on the valuable insights of those on the ground. Their frontline experience becomes the lens that helps us understand the bigger picture and steer the organisation’s direction. This requires letting go, delegating effectively, and trusting others to do things in the way that works for them.
To lead this way, you must become a master of understanding both your limitations and your strengths. Think of your mind as a garden. Your “weeds” are the thoughts, behaviours, emotional patterns, and habits that hold you back. These must be identified and pulled out with intention. Only then can you make space to plant new seeds—qualities and practices you want to cultivate, such as confidence, healthy relationships, wellbeing, or new leadership behaviours.
This process demands continuous self reflection and a willingness to fully engage with the lessons life presents. If we don’t remove the weeds, there is no room for growth. Left unattended, the mind fills with negative thoughts, which lead to negative emotions, and eventually to negative outcomes—a loop of human suffering many of us know all too well.
The encouraging news? This cycle can be interrupted quickly. Just as you can tidy a garden in an afternoon and plant fresh flowers for spring, you can reset your mindset with awareness and intention. The weeds will come back—they always do—but with regular attention and consistent care, they will never be allowed to take over again.
The final piece in getting out of the weeds is ensuring that our words reflect what we ultimately hope to achieve. Our language becomes a mirror, revealing whether we are speaking from our weeds or from our seeds. When we react negatively to an employee or a challenging situation, it’s a red flag—a signal that an old weed is still rooted and needs our attention. Instead of reacting from habit, pause and ask yourself: How would I respond in my ideal world? Your words should always align with your values, beliefs, and the goals you hold for your team and your business. Communicate what you mean, mean what you say, and when you make a mistake—as every leader eventually does—own it, apologise, make amends, and pull that weed out immediately. This is how leaders grow, and how they cultivate environments where others can grow with them. Here lies your opportunity to take responsibility for every part of who you choose to become, shaping a legacy that continues to influence and uplift long after your chapter has ended.
