By the end of February, we’ve talked about boundaries, decisions, and systems. And if you’re honest, you may be thinking, I still don’t get this right all the time. At least, I know I didn’t at times and still don’t. That thought doesn’t disqualify us from the work. It makes us human. Leadership is not a performance. It’s a practice.

Growth Is Not Linear

Even the most thoughtful leaders misstep. They say yes when they should have paused, avoid hard conversations for too long, or miss critical issues in the data they wish they had seen sooner.

Growth doesn’t happen in straight lines. It happens through reflection, adjustment, and humility. And none of that is possible without grace.

Shame Shuts Growth Down

Late-Lee, I’ve been thinking about the moments in my leadership when I walked out of a meeting knowing I hadn’t handled it the way I should have. I made a decision too quickly. I didn’t listen long enough to others’ perspectives. I led from pressure to change rather than from patience. In those moments, like a scene from 50 First Dates, I ruminated over every word, interaction, and next step until I had convinced myself I had failed. But I later realized growth rarely comes from self-criticism. It comes from what we learn through honest reflection.

Leadership often feels like action research in real time. We make decisions with the best information we have. Sometimes they are right. Sometimes we realize later that they could have been better. Grace allows space for that realization without shame.

Grace sounds like:

• I didn’t handle that well.
• I need to revisit that decision.
• I’m still learning.

Those admissions don’t weaken leadership. They strengthen it.

Love Yourself Enough to Keep Growing

We should extend the same care we show others to ourselves.

Grace allows leaders to:

• reflect without self-criticism
• learn without defensiveness,
• grow without fear. Leadership rooted in grace is steady. It is resilient. It lasts.

The Long Game of Leadership

One action or display of love by a leader doesn’t define leadership. Leadership is built over time through protecting sustainability, reflective decision-making, supportive systems, and grace that encourages growth.

No leader masters this perfectly, nor do they need to. 

A Closing Reflection

As this month comes to a close, ask yourself:

• Where have I grown so far this year?
• What lesson is leadership trying to teach me right now?
• How can I lead with both courage and grace moving forward?

Love in leadership is not about perfection. It’s about commitment. And tomorrow, you get to keep learning.