Sometimes the biggest leadership failures come from the best intentions. In this article, I unpack two powerful stories, one real, one fictional, where leaders tried to help, but ended up doing harm by skipping the most important step: listening. Whether you're leading a team or launching a new initiative, these stories reveal why influence without empathy quickly becomes imposition, and how trust is built not by having the answers, but by asking the right questions first.

Leadership isn’t about hierarchy—it’s about contribution. On a recent cruise, I met Mr. Washy Washy, a crew member whose simple job of reminding guests to wash their hands became something extraordinary. Through song and dance, he turned a routine task into a ship-wide phenomenon, creating joy while likely preventing illness.

It was a powerful reminder that the smallest roles can have the biggest impact and that true leadership is about recognizing the value in every team member.

Who’s your Mr. Washy Washy? Who has made an impact in your life—not because of their title, but because of how they showed up?

Discover why customer buy-in is the cornerstone of effective leadership. Through the story of an Afghan village and lessons from The Ugly American, this blog explores how listening, collaboration, and cultural awareness lead to sustainable solutions and meaningful change. Learn actionable strategies to engage your team, build trust, and solve the right problems the right way.

Lights, camera, leadership! Let's take a moment to appreciate the remarkable leadership traits exhibited by the fictional character Ted Lasso in the hit series that bears his name.