Leading With Heart
Leading With Heart—Without Carrying Everything
If you’re leading in Minnesota right now, it’s hard not to feel the weight of it all. (Or I would say, leading anywhere...)
There’s a collective heaviness in our communities—grief, uncertainty, concern for people’s safety and dignity. And for leaders who are deeply compassionate, that weight doesn’t stay “out there.” It comes into meetings, decisions, and the quiet moments at home.
Leadership isn’t separate from care. It is care.
And for many of us, this is where the exhaustion begins.
Exceptional leaders genuinely love their people. They want to do right by them. They pay attention. They notice when someone is struggling or disengaged.
I know this because I’ve lived it.
Over time, caring leaders often begin to carry more than their role was ever meant to hold—not because we’re weak, but because we’re conscientious. Because we care.
Here’s what I want to share with you here in February: Loving your people does not mean carrying everything for them.
When care turns into responsibility—for others’ motivation, emotions, or follow-through—leadership becomes heavy and unsustainable.
This is where a simple check in can be clarifying. Take a quiet moment and ask yourself:
What am I carrying that actually belongs to someone else?
What am I holding because I care, not because it’s truly mine?
What feels draining without producing long-term value?
Where have boundaries blurred between support and responsibility?
Strong leadership includes empathy, humanity, and compassion.
It also includes clarity about what is—and isn’t—yours to carry.
Especially in moments like these, when the world feels heavy, leaders need space to lead with heart and stay resourced themselves. And, I want you to know, no matter what anyone tells you: It's not selfish. It's leadership that lasts for decades and it's leadership that lets others grow.
So set down what isn’t yours to carry. Pick up what is.
We need you at your best—now more than ever.
Cheering you on, always,
Lori
Ways to Work Together:
If any of this resonates, there are a few ways I support leaders and teams—depending on what would be most helpful right now.
I work 1:1 with senior leaders and founders who want a grounded, thoughtful space to lead with clarity, capacity, and intention—especially in seasons that feel heavy or complex.
I also partner with teams and organizations through CliftonStrengths workshops and group coaching, helping leaders and teams build shared language, trust, and ownership—so the work doesn’t rest on one or two people carrying everything.
And I’m glad to share that my Modern Leadership Workshop is returning in April—back by popular demand. It’s designed for leaders who want practical tools and reflection around leading people well today, with both accountability and heart.
If you’re unsure what support might look like, that’s okay too. I’ve opened a few spots for a Leadership Clarity Conversation—a no-pressure space to think things through and see what might fit this season.
However you engage, my intention is the same: to support leaders who care deeply about people and want to lead in ways that are sustainable, boundaried, and human.
Thank you for the care you bring to your people and communities—especially right now.
Cheering you on, always,
Lori
