Stop trying to fix this leadership habit

Many leaders I work with carry a quiet belief about leadership.

You show up steady.  
You show up responsible.  
You hold things together.

You read the room.  
You anticipate what others need.  
You make sure things keep moving.

In many ways, this is exactly what makes you a strong leader.

But there’s a hidden pattern that can start to develop.

When you’re constantly focused on what others need, it becomes easy to override yourself.

You start showing up the way leadership is supposed to look.

Steady.  
Capable.  
Unshakeable.

And over time, that can become exhausting.

Not because leadership is wrong for you.

But because you’re carrying more than your share.

One simple way to interrupt this pattern is surprisingly effective:

Turn the behavior into a game.

Instead of trying to “fix” the pattern, track it.

For example:

How many pieces of work did you give back today instead of taking on yourself?

How many questions did you not answer, but helped the person discover the answer themselves?

How many honest conversations did you have instead of quietly carrying the issue?

Games change the experience.

They bring curiosity where there used to be pressure.

And they help you notice when you’re slipping back into carrying everything alone.

So here’s something to consider this week.

What’s one self-sacrificing habit you could turn into a game?

In Your Corner,  
Allison