Pride in Leadership: Starting the New Year With Purpose

Why Leaders Must Take Pride in Their Work—and Inspire It in Others

It's a new year, and there is something important every leader needs to hear: Thank you.

Thank you for taking on a role that is often thankless, stressful, consuming, and emotionally demanding. Thank you for working every day to pursue organizational goals—even when they may conflict with your personal goals. And most importantly, thank you for caring enough to grow people and teams who sometimes make your job harder before they make it better.

Not everyone can do what you do. Leadership requires strength, resilience, humility, and a willingness to stand in the gap for others. So as you begin this year, take a moment to give yourself some credit for choosing one of the toughest—and most meaningful—roles any professional can take on.

Take Pride in Leadership

Some of you are involved in emergency work. Some of you care for and heal others. Some of you build products that keep people safe, healthy, or supported. Some of you nurture, mentor, problem-solve, or guide teams through uncertainty.

Whatever your role—take pride in it, again, take pride in leadership.

Every leader is responsible for motivating people, teaching, coaching, and helping others meet their goals and their potential. That impact is real. It matters. And it lasts longer than you may ever know.

Help Your People Take Pride in Their Work

Your team needs encouragement just as much as you do. Every person has a deep human need to know they matter—that they’re seen, valued, and making a difference.

Take a few minutes with each individual on your team. Tell them why they matter. Tell them what they contribute. Tell them how their strengths help move the organization forward.

Sometimes the smallest recognition is the one people remember the longest.

A Simple Leadership Challenge

Instead of offering the original 2012 invitation, here is a modern version aligned with today’s LIA approach: If someone in your organization has made a meaningful difference in your life, tell them. Today. Send a note. Send a message. Say it face-to-face.

Leadership is about relationships—and gratitude strengthens every one of them.

Closing Reflection

Start this year by leading with pride, humility, and appreciation. Grow yourself. Grow your teams. And never underestimate the difference you make.

Grow Further with Our “Building Trust & Relationships” Workbook

If you’re ready to strengthen leadership trust, connection, and influence this year, explore our Building Trust & Relationships in Leadership workbook—filled with practical tools to help you create more engaged, connected, and loyal teams.