The Leadership Decisions No One Sees

There are weekends when everything goes exactly as planned. And then there are the weekends that remind you what leadership is really about.

This Saturday started with a road trip.

Dave and I loaded up the Hummer and headed to Stephenville to celebrate Ayden and Tyler as they prepare to welcome sweet Lakelyn into the world.

At one point I looked over and laughed. Dave was sitting there with his hands off the wheel while the Hummer was doing most of the driving. Technology has come a long way.

We joked that we were showing up in style, and to make the day even sweeter, Dave surprised me with plans to spend the night in Granbury after the baby shower. Talk about refilling your cup.

I thought that was going to be my favorite part of the day.

I was wrong.

What I Noticed at the Shower

When we arrived, the baby shower was beautiful. The decorations were perfect, everyone was excited for Ayden and Tyler, and there was so much love in the room as everyone celebrated little Lakelyn.

But while everyone else was enjoying the afternoon, I noticed something.

Wendy quietly told me it had been a really difficult day. She and Nathan had struggled that morning, and she wasn’t planning to stay long. She wanted to get Nathan home before the day became even more overwhelming.

Nathan is 25 years old and autistic. Sometimes crowds, bright sunlight, and long days can become more than he can comfortably process.

As she was talking, all I could think was…

What if we could give Wendy just a little more time with Ayden?

So I looked at Nathan and asked, “Hey, would you like to go for a ride in the Hummer with Dave and me?”

His answer came without hesitation.

“Yes.”

A Ride in the Hummer

Dave looked over at me and grinned. “I knew this was a bad idea.”

I just laughed.

A few minutes into our drive, Nathan quietly mentioned that his sunglasses had broken and the sun was really bothering his eyes. So we made a quick stop at a gas station.

Nathan picked out a brand-new pair of sunglasses. I grabbed a Monster.

And just like that… the day started changing.

Then Dave decided to show Nathan one more trick. He put the Hummer into King Crab Mode.

If you’ve never seen it before, it’s exactly what it sounds like. The truck literally drives sideways.

Watching Nathan ride shotgun, wearing his brand-new sunglasses and smiling from ear to ear while the Hummer crab-walked through Stephenville may have been my favorite moment of the entire day.

Then something even better happened. Nathan and I started making goofy faces at each other. We were sticking our tongues out, laughing, taking silly pictures, and acting like a couple of kids.

An hour earlier it had been a hard day. Now we were just enjoying the moment.

And honestly… those are the moments that stay with you.

Leadership Is Usually Quieter

As leaders, we spend so much of our lives believing leadership is found in the big decisions. The board meetings. The strategic plans. The difficult conversations. The million-dollar budgets.

Those things matter.

But I’m beginning to think the moments that define us as leaders are usually much quieter.

They’re found in paying attention. Noticing the person standing off by themselves. Seeing the mom who’s carrying more than anyone realizes. Recognizing when someone simply needs a change of scenery.

Sometimes leadership isn’t solving a huge problem. Sometimes it’s asking one simple question.

Sometimes it’s buying a pair of sunglasses. Sometimes it’s letting someone ride shotgun. Sometimes it’s making a truck drive sideways just to see a smile.

The best leaders don’t just manage people. They notice people.

As we drove back toward the baby shower, I realized something.

The Hummer was incredible. King Crab Mode was fun. The technology was impressive. But years from now, none of that is what I’ll remember.

I’ll remember Nathan laughing. I’ll remember Wendy getting a little extra time to enjoy celebrating Ayden. I’ll remember that kindness doesn’t always require a grand gesture.

Sometimes it looks like paying attention. Sometimes it looks like making room for someone else. Sometimes it looks like buying a pair of sunglasses.

Leadership isn’t always found in the biggest moments. Sometimes it’s found in the smallest acts of kindness.

Those are the leadership decisions no one sees. But they just might be the ones that matter most.

A Better Question

So this week, I want to leave you with one question.

You may never know how much one small act of kindness can change someone’s day.

I know it changed ours.

Keep breaking barriers. 💜

— Sheila Greene