Last week, a founder said something that stopped me in my tracks.

“I know I’m supposed to be the one lifting the team. But what do I do when I’m the one who’s low?”

That sentence echoes louder than most. I know, because I have felt it as well in many moments.
Because if you’re a real leader—not just in title, but in spirit—you know this tension.

You’ve shown up to the Zoom with a heavy heart.
You’ve pushed through a check-in call when your own tank was empty.
You’ve smiled in a meeting while wondering if any of this still makes sense.

It has been said, "As a leader, you're not alone, but it can be very lonely."

This isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a reflection of your humanity. It has been said, "As a leader, you're not alone, but it can be very lonely."

In a world of disruption, ambiguity, and AI-accelerated pressure, leaders are carrying more than ever—yet still expected to be the source of hope.
🔹 Source: Great Place to Work, 2025

No wonder morale feels fragile.
No wonder motivation feels manufactured.
No wonder so many teams are emotionally flatlined.

And yet—this is exactly when leadership matters most.

The Quiet Weight Leaders Carry

In 2025, U.S. employee engagement hit its lowest level in over a decade. Burnout is rising. Many are staying in roles not out of purpose, but fear.
🔹 Source: Gallup – 7 Workplace Challenges for 2025

This era isn’t just a “Great Resignation”—it’s a Great Detachment.

At the same time, research confirms something vital:

The emotional state of a leader directly shapes the energy, focus, and performance of the team.
🔹 Source: OA Lib, PubMed Study on Leader’s Mood, Dilan Consulting

Your presence—how grounded, hopeful, and human you are—is the weather system for your people.
Which raises the deeper question:

How do you lead others when your own light feels dim?

Let’s get honest. Then let’s get practical.

What Limitless Leaders Do Differently

1. They Name the Dip, Without Drowning In It

You don’t need to pretend things are fine.
Say:

“We’re feeling this together. It’s okay to be tired—and we’ll find our way forward.”

This fosters solidarity, not shame. Transparency breaks isolation.
Approachable leaders aren’t perfect—they’re real.

🧰 Tool: Try a “moment of truth” check-in. Invite your team to share one word for how they’re doing—then acknowledge what you hear.

2. They Tend to Their Own Flame First

Self-care is not selfish—it’s leadership hygiene.
When you rest, reflect, and receive support, you model resilience instead of martyrdom. Leadership of self is the first phase and the center of limitless leader growth.

🧰 Tool: Schedule one non-negotiable hour per week to reconnect—with nature, a mentor, your journal, or simply silence.

3. They Recognize the Good, Loud and Often

Recognition is rocket fuel—especially in the fog.
Even a 30-second voice note or Slack message saying, “I saw what you did. It mattered.”
That lands. That lifts.

🧰 Tool: Set a 10-minute calendar block every Friday to thank three people—publicly or privately.

4. They Lead with Empathy, Not Just Urgency

In moments of uncertainty, empathy creates safety.
And safety unlocks contribution.

🧰 Tool: Ask, “What’s something unseen that’s weighing on you?” in your next 1-on-1. Then listen without solving.

5. They Help Teams Win Small

Big goals feel far away when morale is low.
But small, visible wins? They restore belief.

🧰 Tool: Co-design a 2-week sprint challenge with your team. Make it bite-sized. Celebrate the finish line—even if it’s modest.

6. They Ask—Then Act on the Answers

Feedback isn't a threat—it’s a flashlight.
Invite it. Act on it. Show your people they matter.

🧰 Tool: Use one team meeting each month as a “Pulse Check,” with 3 questions:

• What should we Stop doing?
• What should we Start doing?
• What should we Continue doing?

When You’re Low, You’re Not Alone

If you’re reading this and feel like you’ve been quietly carrying more than anyone sees—know this:

You’re not weak. You’re leading in real life, not theory.

And in doing so, you have permission to be both leader and human.
To hold the room and admit when it’s heavy.
To light the path and still need light yourself.

That’s not a contradiction.
That’s leadership.

Try This This Week:

✨ Leadership Dare: Share one moment of real vulnerability with your team. Don’t script it. Let it land. Then invite them to reflect with you.

Because when the leader breathes deeper—so does the team.

Love 💗 be with You!!!
Lead On with Purpose, Grace and Limitless Potential