The Best Leaders Don't Need to Be the Hero

Written by Margaret Abeles | Jul 30, 2026, 9:10:29 PM

We've been taught to think of leadership as being the person at the center of the story.

The visionary.
The expert.
The one with all the answers.

But some of the most effective leaders operate differently.

They spend less time being the hero and more time helping others succeed.
Their focus isn't on receiving credit.

It's on creating opportunities.
Removing obstacles.
Developing people.
Helping others perform at their best.

Their impact shows up in the growth of those around them.

The strongest leaders understand that influence doesn't come from being the main character.

It comes from helping others become one.

Are you measuring your success by what you accomplish, or by what the people around you accomplish? Can you think of a leader who helped you succeed?