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“No man will make a great leader who want to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it.”
(Andrew Carnegie)
The Walk into the Future blog pivoted to more leadership content in the past few weeks. This is not surprising as I look to expand my leadership consulting program and reach potential clients with my content.
Proverbs 27:17 highlight one of my favorite leadership principles: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
Iron becomes sharper only through friction. In the same way, leaders grow through relationships and situations that challenge their thinking, stretch their abilities, and refine their character.
The normal trend is for leaders to surround themselves with people who simply agree with every decision. While agreement may feel comfortable, it rarely produces growth. The best leaders intentionally seek colleagues, mentors, and team members who ask difficult questions, offer honest feedback, and encourage continuous improvement.
General Colin Powell has a specific leadership rule that I leverage daily with my team. General Powell states, “If you agree with everything I say then one of us is redundant.” I love that quote! 😊
Healthy leadership isn’t about avoiding friction—it’s about embracing constructive conversations that make everyone stronger. Great teams operate with this mindset. They celebrate successes, challenge for improvements and hold everyone accountable with respect and trust. Their goal isn’t to win arguments; it’s to help shape everyone into better leaders.
Authentic leaders should ask the following questions:
- Who sharpens me?
- Who am I sharpening?
- Am I creating an environment where honest feedback is welcomed rather than feared?
Leadership is not about standing above others. It is about growing alongside the team members. When leaders intentionally sharpen one another, organizations become stronger, cultures become healthier, and people reach their full potential.
As you walk into the future, don’t seek people who simply tell you what you want to hear. Seek those who challenge you to become the leader you were created to be.
My final thoughts highlight leadership is about developing people, not just directing them. The strongest leaders are the ones who continually sharpen themselves while helping sharpen others in their workspace.
Who did YOU sharpen today?
Irie!
Calvin Williams
“Real leadership is leaders recognizing that they serve the people that they lead.”
(Pete Hoekstra)
Walk Into the Future 