Let me hit you with a hard truth I learned the tough way: Sometimes the problem isn’t your team—it’s you. I had a young man on my team—brilliant, capable, but completely disengaged. I thought he was burned out on the job. But the truth? My leadership style wasn’t bringing out his best.
The Trap
We blame the market. The economy. The workload. But burnout isn’t always about the job. Sometimes, it’s about the environment we create as leaders. I hear it all the time—“They’re just not motivated anymore.” But what if you’re not asking the right questions? What if your style isn’t clicking?
I’ve seen people thrive under one leader and sink under another. Same person. Different outcome. Why? Because leadership matters. Big time.
The Fix
Here’s what I did—and what I challenge you to do. I stopped pointing fingers and looked in the mirror. I asked, “What am I doing wrong?” And then I sat down with him, looked him in the eyes, and simply said: “Tell me about yourself. What’s going on?”
That one question? Opened the floodgates.
He shared what was really happening. Distractions at home, struggles I didn’t see. And when he knew I cared—when I showed up as a leader who listened—everything changed.
The Challenge
So if you’re leading a team, ask yourself:
👉Who am I?
👉Where am I going?
👉How am I helping my people get there?
Don’t wait until they’ve checked out. Don’t assume it’s the market. Own the outcome—because when you lead with intention, you’ll see your people light up.
👊Let’s go attack it.