Leadership is a journey — and you’re on it. There is room for you to grow, and Equip Coaching is committed to being an asset to you along the way. We look forward to walking with you as you continue developing into the leader you are becoming.
One of the most powerful ways to grow is by understanding where you’ve been. Equip Coaching is built on five foundational concepts. The first is simple: leadership is essential. The second is equally important: you are not the leader you were. You have moved forward. You have grown. You have changed.
This week’s blog takes a different approach. Rather than pushing you forward, I’m inviting you to look back.
Today, take time to reflect. Three questions will guide your reflection. Pause after each one and write your answers.
QUESTION ONE: WHO IS ON YOUR MOUNT RUSHMORE OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT?
Mount Rushmore in South Dakota famously displays the carved images of four presidents. Thousands visit each year to honor their legacy.
Now think about your leadership journey. Who are the four most influential leaders who shaped you? Who invested in you, challenged you, encouraged you, or modeled something you needed?
It may be a supervisor, a teacher, a coach, a pastor, or someone else entirely.
Write their names. If you can’t limit it to four, make a longer list — but identify your top contributors. Then write a short description of the difference each person made.
If possible, reach out to them. Tell them how they shaped your development. Gratitude strengthens leadership.
QUESTION TWO: WHAT KEY LEADERSHIP LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED ALONG THE JOURNEY?
Your greatest lessons may have come from seasons of victory. You tried something bold — and it worked. You took a risk — and it paid off.
Or your lessons may have come from failure. You tried something — and it fell apart. John Maxwell’s book Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn captures this truth perfectly. Even the title alone teaches a powerful principle: every experience has something to offer.
You may have been shaped by a challenge from someone else. Their words may have been wise and timely — or spoken from an uninformed place. Either way, they shaped you.
Reflect on the foundational lessons that have formed your leadership. At Equip Coaching, we regularly revisit the lessons that shaped us. What are yours?
Share your lessons with another leader. Ask these questions of those you lead. Listen deeply.
QUESTION THREE: WHAT PAINFUL SEASONS HAVE SHAPED YOU?
The seasons that shape us most deeply are often the ones that hurt the most.
Spend time reflecting on the painful chapters of your leadership journey. What did you learn through those moments?
Did you discover that you could stand strong? Did you learn that people would stand beside you? Did you uncover resilience you didn’t know you had?
Write those lessons down. Then share them with someone who may be walking through a painful season right now. Your story may be the encouragement they need.
THE PURPOSE OF REFLECTION
This season of reflection has one objective: to help you define where you have grown as a leader.
The truth is clear: You are not the leader you were. You have grown. You have learned. You have developed. And you are not done yet.
Your journey continues — and Equip Coaching is honored to walk with you.
