Leadership is an ongoing reflection and growth journey, especially when leading leaders. It’s not just about driving outcomes or guiding a team—it’s about fostering trust, showing gratitude, and ensuring a clear balance between appreciation and effort. One key lesson I’ve learned is that gratitude and leadership go hand in hand, but how we express it matters deeply.
Expressing Gratitude: A Double-Edged Sword
Gratitude in leadership can take many forms. It might be as simple as saying “thank you” during a one-on-one meeting or as grand as planning a team event to celebrate milestones. But here’s a pitfall I’ve encountered: sometimes, I have shown appreciation by giving my team more responsibilities. While the intention is to recognize their potential and trust their abilities, it can be overwhelming rather than rewarding. I’ve learned to ask myself this: Am I the kind of leader who thanks my team by asking them to take on more, or do I take responsibility for making gratitude meaningful and impactful myself?
The Responsibility of Employee Satisfaction
When we think of employee satisfaction, our minds often turn to entry-level or mid-tier staff. However, leaders are no exception to this rule. Their engagement, morale, and satisfaction directly influence their performance and the health of the teams they oversee. I have learnt to ensure that I have addressed the satisfaction of the leaders I lead, to some extent, in every catch-up I have.
- Leaders often carry the weight of their team’s successes and failures. This dual accountability can be isolating. By recognizing this, I started checking in with them about their deliverables, their workload, and well-being
- Many leaders hesitate to express challenges or insecurities, fearing it may undermine their authority. I’ve worked on creating a space where they feel safe sharing these concerns, knowing I’m there to support them, not judge them. Part of that is showing my vulnerability openly.
- All the leaders I have worked with have valued independence, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need or want guidance. I’ve learned to strike a balance—giving them room to lead while being available when they need me to offer mentorship, resources, and support.
Leading Leaders Requires a Different Lens
When leading leaders, the dynamics shift. Your team is no longer looking solely for guidance; they are partners in strategy and decision-making. Still, it’s important to remember that even leaders need to feel appreciated in ways that don’t always demand more from them.
I’ll give you an example: While collaboration is valuable, tasks like planning celebrations or recognition events shouldn’t fall solely on the team. Their input is vital, but it’s up to me to make sure the event happens without burdening them. And hey, if it’s your team’s celebration, you need to handle the organizing part yourself!
Delegation is essential to leadership, but gratitude is not the same. Asking someone to take on more responsibilities as a reward for their hard work can backfire—it may leave them feeling stretched instead of appreciated.
What I’ve Learned Along the Way
Leading leaders has taught me that leadership isn’t about managing tasks; the higher you go in the organization, the more it is about managing relationships. Leaders may have unique perspectives and expertise, but they still look to their leaders for validation, direction, and sometimes even for care.
I often remind myself to look in the mirror when making these decisions. Leadership isn’t about perfection; it’s about learning and adapting. There have been times I’ve focused so much on treating my team as peers that I’ve forgotten my unique responsibilities as their leader. Balancing camaraderie with leadership is a skill I continue to refine. This dual relationship—peer-like collaboration combined with employee responsibility—is complex but rewarding.
When you lead leaders, your actions set the tone for how leadership is perceived within your team. Gratitude isn’t just about acknowledgment—it’s about creating an environment where effort and appreciation coexist in harmony. As I reflect on my own journey, I keep this at the forefront: Leadership is about serving, not just leading. Gratitude is about giving, not just asking. When we balance the two thoughtfully, we create teams that feel valued, empowered, and inspired to lead themselves.
