Leadership isn’t defined by absence of struggle

The best leaders I know?

Their teams still struggle sometimes.

Even great leaders think:
“If I were a better leader, my team wouldn’t be struggling right now.”

I hear it from leaders I coach.
And I used to say it too.

But here’s the truth:
Struggle isn’t proof you’ve failed as a leader.

It’s proof you’re leading humans through challenge, change, or growth.

Your role isn’t to remove every bump in the road.
It’s to walk alongside your team when the path gets hard.

With courage.
With clarity.
And with humility.

Your leadership isn’t defined by the absence of struggle.
It’s defined by how you lead through it.