We’ve all been there—so focused on pushing forward that we miss what’s right in front of us. Sometimes, as leaders, we’re so determined to keep moving that we don’t notice the obstacles in our path. It begs the question: Where might you be charging ahead when a pause would serve you better?
At a leadership event I attended not long ago, one of the participants stood up to make a point—literally. In his eagerness to jump into the conversation, he caught his foot on the leg of a chair and tripped, twisting his ankle. He went down hard, and the whole room winced.
He laughed it off at first and tried to keep going. “I’m good,” he said, waving off concern. “Just need to walk it off.” But his limp told a different story.
It was a minor injury, but the metaphor stuck with me.
How often do we, as leaders, do the same? How often do we try to charge ahead, ignore the pain, and push through, convinced we can walk it off? Even when it’s clear—to everyone but us—that we need help?
Leadership demands resilience, but unchecked determination can turn into blind insistence. That drive can lead us to override what our body, our team, or the situation is telling us. Sometimes we don’t need to push forward—we need to pause, recalibrate, and take a more thoughtful next step.
Too often, we treat slowing down as a liability. But great leaders know better. They don’t mistake vulnerability for weakness. They trust the people around them. They ask for help when they need it. And they recognize that progress isn’t always a straight line. It’s about direction, not speed.
So, here’s my question for you: When do you insist you’re “fine” when you’re actually not? And what might become possible if you stopped to tend to that twisted ankle before trying to sprint again?
Great leadership isn’t about muscling through alone. It’s about knowing when to lean in, when to let go, and when to take a beat—so your next step is the right one.
Bill Adams, Co-Founder and CEO
Bill Adams loves people and is passionate about relationships, leadership, and business. He is a serial entrepreneur who has started, owned, and sold multiple businesses. As a founder and the current CEO of Leadership Circle, Bill brings 30 years of experience to his clients—the CEOs of major Fortune 500 corporations, nonprofits, and private equity startups. In addition, Bill co-authored Mastering Leadership and Scaling Leadership. As a trusted advisor, teacher, consultant, and coach, he works with CEOs and top teams in fulfilling the promise of leadership.
