Imagine that the most important thing on your to-do list today isn’t a meeting, a deadline, a report, or another task to check off. Imagine it’s a person.
Maybe there’s someone you’ve been meaning to call. Someone you’ve been avoiding because you don’t quite know what to say. Someone who has invested in you, encouraged you, opened a door for you, or helped shape who you are as a leader, and you’ve never properly thanked them.
Maybe you need to apologize to someone. Those calls are rarely easy. Pride, discomfort, and the fear of an awkward conversation can make us put them off. But as leaders, we should be quick to apologize when we know we have gotten something wrong. An apology doesn’t diminish leadership; it demonstrates humility, ownership, and courage.
Or maybe there’s someone who simply needs something from you. Not because they can do something for you in return. Not because it advances your agenda. Not because it will show up on a scorecard or benefit your organization. You just have it in your heart to do something for them. That matters.
Leadership isn’t only about the urgent things in front of us. Some of the most important things we do will never appear on a task list. They are the conversations we initiate, the relationships we repair, the gratitude we express, and the encouragement we give when someone needs it.
Think about the person who came to mind as you read this. Why did they come to mind? Make the call!
