Heal to Lead

23What We Receive When We Give

MANY TIMES WE don't realize the influence we have on those constellating in and around our lives and organizations. We rarely if ever think about the impact that our leadership style has on our employees’ family units, communities, and future generations. Yet many of the relationships I cultivated with my agency employees remained intact long after the acquisition. I've celebrated their engagements and weddings, home ownership, and the births of their children. In March 2022, I was invited to the wedding of a former team member, Gaby, and her fiancé, Nick, who had also done some video production work for our agency. It was a beautiful wedding, relatively small, and I felt honored to be invited.

Gaby's father saw me standing at a high-top table. He asked if I was his daughter's former boss, and I smiled, “You must be Dad. I've heard a lot about you.” He hugged me on the spot and proceeded to tell me how grateful he was that, as his daughter's very first employer, I saw the same potential in Gaby that he did. What meant even more to him was how I've continued to support her career over the years. I was always thrilled to do anything I could for her, both personally and professionally. He described the impact that Gaby's success has had on his immediate family and on the extended family of nieces and nephews, who saw her go to college and see her flourishing as she levels up in her career with each courageous step. I had no idea that any of this ...