Real Talk Reflection
I do not always feel like leading with grace.
Some days, the impulse to be petty is loud. Not dramatic, just sharp enough to cut. A quick jab in a meeting. A deliberately delayed reply. A reminder that I, too, have limits.
Here is what I have learned:
Petty is not random.
It is not weakness.
It is a signal.
It shows up when something has gone unchecked.
It rides in with frustration that has been smiled through one too many times.
It gathers strength from moments of being overlooked or dismissed.
It feeds on exhaustion, especially the kind of exhaustion leaders are trained to ignore.
By the time it surfaces, the damage is already done. Not from the snarky email or the passive-aggressive reply. From the weeks—or months—of silence that came before it.
So no, I do not shame the petty impulse. I listen to it. Because it usually means I missed something:
- A boundary that should have been reinforced
- A conversation that needed more honesty
- A part of myself that is overdue for rest or recognition
Leadership is not about pretending we are above all that.
It is about knowing when our energy is being pulled in the wrong direction—and pausing long enough to correct it.
Today, I choose peace.
Tomorrow? If I feel the pull toward petty, I will take that as a cue to go deeper.
Because petty is a symptom. And I am not here to lead from symptoms. I am here to lead from awareness.
Where is your energy pulling you today, and what might that be trying to tell you?
Real leadership is not perfect. 