Reaping the Rewards of Your Team
Good leadership is about more than hitting goals or checking boxes—it’s about cultivating people. When leaders invest in mentorship, communication, and compassion, they don’t just see short-term wins. They reap long-term rewards: stronger teams, sustainable growth, and individuals who go on to lead with heart themselves.
That’s what I like to call the leader’s harvest—the moment when you see the seeds you planted in someone else’s leadership journey come to fruition.
A Story of Leadership Growth
One of the most rewarding parts of my career has been watching former students step into leaders themselves.
When Olivia was chosen as editor-in-chief for her senior yearbook, I worried about the way she had been leading. Before she stepped into the role, we sat down for a Big Talk. I told her, “You get to decide what kind of leader you want to be.”
Like many young leaders, she’d leaned on compulsion and coercion—classic “my way or the highway” energy. It’s a common first instinct: push harder, control more, get people to comply. But real leadership isn’t about control. It’s about connection.
Olivia made a different choice. She chose compassion and communication. She began listening to her team, opening space for collaboration, and building trust instead of enforcing compliance.
Fast forward fifteen years: Olivia is now Vice President of Content at Olive & June. Last month, she invited my current students to a behind-the-scenes field trip at a photoshoot, where they got to learn about brand storytelling and professional product photography.
It was pure joy to see her in her element. She was confident, warm, and clear. She led her team with kindness and direction. She guided my students with curiosity and encouragement. She showed exactly what it means to reap the rewards of leading with heart.
Three Lessons for Leaders
Olivia’s story highlights three universal lessons for leaders who want to see a real harvest:
Compassion creates connection. Teams don’t thrive on fear. They thrive when they feel seen and valued.
Communication builds trust. Clear expectations and open dialogue prevent conflict and strengthen relationships.
Mentorship multiplies impact. When you invest in others, they carry forward your influence into new spaces.
These principles aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of sustainable leadership.
The real harvest of leadership isn’t just about what you achieve. It’s about who rises because of your influence. Watching Olivia lead with the same compassion and communication she once chose as a teenager reminded me: leadership is generational. What you plant now will grow long after the season ends.
Think about your own leadership journey:
Who mentored you, and what seeds did they plant in you?
Who are you mentoring now, and how might they carry forward your legacy?
What kind of leadership harvest are you cultivating today?
If you have a story about a mentee, a teammate, or a leadership moment you’re proud of, I’d love to hear it. Share your story in the comments—or better yet, share it with the person who helped you grow. Because leadership, at its best, is always a shared harvest.
