Leadership Lessons at My Feet
Table of Contents
I have always believed that inspiration can be found in the most unexpected places. Sometimes, it is in a challenging conversation. Other times, it is in a quiet walk. But recently, I found it in something truly ordinary. A new pair of shoes.
It may sound strange, but hear me out.
As I laced up a new pair of sneakers one morning, I felt an unusual mix of excitement and discomfort. They looked great. They were the right size. But they did not feel like mine yet. They were unfamiliar. I was aware of every step I took, cautious, slightly awkward, and keenly observant.
That moment got me thinking about leadership. About how similar it is to slipping into a new pair of shoes. You may be given the title, but it takes time before it fits just right. Leadership is not something that magically begins the day your designation changes. It is something you grow into. Something you learn to carry with ease and confidence. And sometimes, it teaches you through the most mundane of metaphors.
Here are four leadership lessons I discovered from a simple act of buying and wearing a new pair of shoes. You might just find them useful the next time you are navigating change, growth, or uncertainty in your team.
1. Break in Your Shoes Before You Run a Marathon
You never run a race in brand-new shoes. You walk around in them first. You ease into them. You test them out on shorter distances. Then slowly, as your feet get used to them, you pick up the pace. That is how you avoid blisters. That is how you build comfort.
Leadership works the same way.
Taking on a leadership role is exciting, but it comes with weight. You carry expectations, responsibilities, and influence. And even if you are prepared, it still feels new. It takes time to grow into the role, just like it takes time to break in a pair of shoes.
I remember one of my early leadership roles where I was eager to prove myself. I jumped into strategy meetings, offered suggestions quickly, and tried to fix every issue. What I should have done instead was observe more. Listen more. Get comfortable with the dynamics and expectations first.
Leadership is not a sprint. It is a long-distance effort.
Daily applications:
- Practice leadership even before you are given a formal title. Lead by example in your current role
- Focus on consistency over grand gestures. That is what earns trust
- Reflect each week on what felt awkward or uncomfortable and identify why
Just like shoes, leadership gets more comfortable the more you walk in it. But only if you give yourself time to grow into the role.
2. The Right Pair Depends on the Terrain
If you have ever worn running shoes on a hiking trail, you know how quickly discomfort can creep in. Each terrain demands a different sole, grip, and level of support. You choose trekking shoes for mountain hikes. You wear loafers for casual strolls. And you pick cleats for the football pitch.
Leaders face the same need for flexibility.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach. What worked in one context might completely backfire in another. I have learned this the hard way in cross-functional teams. Motivating a creative team requires a different tone and rhythm than leading a sales team. Coaching a peer is not the same as managing a junior associate. Each situation demands a different stance, just like each surface demands a different sole.
Reflection point:
“What got you here won’t get you there.” This quote by Marshall Goldsmith captures it best.
Adapting your leadership style is not about being inauthentic. It is about being thoughtful. And effective.
If you want to go deeper into understanding leadership flexibility, you may want to explore Situational Leadership Simulations, which replicate real-life dynamics that require fluid thinking and emotional agility.
What to practice:
- Ask for feedback from different stakeholders. What works for one group might not work for another
- Read up on different leadership models like transformational, coaching, or servant leadership
- Adapt your tone, pace, and messaging depending on the team’s maturity and challenges
Just like choosing the right shoe, good leadership is about knowing the landscape and adjusting accordingly.
3. You Cannot Wear the Same Shoes All Day
I cannot think of a single pair of shoes that works from morning to night, across every scenario. We wear formals to work, switch into sneakers for a walk, and slide into slippers at home. Each switch brings comfort and ease appropriate to the space we are in.
Leadership, too, needs this switch.
I have come to realise that always operating in “leader mode” is not only exhausting, but also ineffective. You cannot be the voice of authority in every conversation. You need to laugh with your team. Eat with them. Let your guard down sometimes. Those are the moments that build trust.
The best leaders I have worked with have a natural rhythm of knowing when to step back and just be part of the group. When to listen without judgment. When to laugh without filtering. When to sit beside, not ahead.
They do not perform leadership. They embody it in layers.
Ways to implement:
- Take interest in your team members beyond their roles. Ask about their interests or families
- Join informal team activities without an agenda
- Create moments of equality, not hierarchy, by being open and relaxed
One of the best offsite workshops I attended created these moments by design. Programs like Knowing Me Knowing You are built for this very reason. They soften roles, increase connection, and build stronger teams.
Just as our feet need rest, our leadership persona needs balance. Authenticity comes from knowing when to step up and when to simply sit together.
4. Your Comfort Matters, Not Just the Brand
We have all been in shoe stores, nodding politely at the salesperson’s recommendation, only to quietly think, “This does not feel right.” The brand might be great. The design might be trendy. But if it does not feel right, it is not your shoe.
Leadership is similar.
There will be plenty of voices offering advice. Some loud. Some experienced. Some well-intentioned. But in the end, it is your leadership journey. You have to choose the approach that feels right to you. Not what looks good. Not what others expect. But what aligns with your values and your strengths.
This does not mean being closed off to feedback. In fact, wise leaders seek diverse opinions. But they make decisions with both head and heart. They do not follow trends. They follow purpose.
Being decisive is not about being dismissive. It is about clarity.
This applies whether you are selecting a project, hiring a team member, or resolving a conflict. Leaders need to be clear-headed and open-hearted.
Build this muscle:
- Learn to sit with discomfort when a decision does not land well
- Distinguish between being liked and being respected
- Build self-awareness through reflection and coaching
You might find the Find Your Why workshop helpful if you are currently navigating questions about alignment or identity as a leader.
Good shoes are the ones that feel right when you walk. Good decisions are the ones that feel right after you have taken them.
Final Thoughts: Small Steps, Big Lessons
The next time you slip on a new pair of shoes, take a moment to notice how you feel. There is tension, excitement, adjustment, and eventually, ease.
That is leadership too.
It begins with curiosity. Then comes experimentation. Then some discomfort. And slowly, with care and effort, it becomes yours.
You stop thinking about every step. You start walking with confidence. You learn when to run, when to pause, and when to tread lightly. And you begin to realise that leadership is not about a title or a style. It is about how you show up. For yourself. For your team. And for the journey you are all walking together.
So wear them in. Change them when needed. Choose them wisely. And above all, keep walking.
Because a leader, like a shoe, is only truly useful when it is moving forward with purpose.
