Lessons from the Field #13

During our recent quarterly meeting, I was reminded that leadership is about more than strategy, metrics, and execution. It’s about creating an environment where people want to engage.

George Wilkins has done an exceptional job fostering that environment. The energy in the room, the willingness to contribute, and the quality of the conversations were all evidence of a leader who understands that engagement starts at the top.

When leaders are engaged, teams become engaged.

That experience reinforced an important lesson I’ve seen throughout my career.

Engagement Is Contagious

I’ve attended a lot of meetings throughout my career, and one thing has become very clear: people don’t just respond to strategy they respond to energy.

Strong leaders create an environment where people want to contribute. They ask questions, encourage discussion, challenge thinking, and make people feel like their voice matters. When leaders are engaged, teams lean in. When leaders create connection, participation rises, ideas improve, and teams become stronger.

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating the conditions for others to bring their best ideas, their best effort, and their best selves to the table.

Engagement isn’t a program.

It’s not an initiative.

It’s a leadership behavior.

The most successful teams I’ve been part of weren’t successful because they had perfect conditions. They were successful because they had leaders who created connection, encouraged participation, and inspired people to be part of something bigger than themselves.

Expectation

Create an environment where people feel valued, heard, and motivated to contribute.

Leader Action

• Ask more questions and listen actively.

• Encourage participation from every voice in the room.

• Recognize contributions and celebrate wins.

• Create opportunities for collaboration.

• Bring positive energy and purpose to every interaction.

Because at the end of the day…

People may forget what was discussed, but they rarely forget how a leader made them feel.

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