As I sit down this Thanksgiving, I’m reminded of a simple truth that’s guided me through 30+ years of leadership: the best leaders eat last.
To the thousands of you who’ve joined me on this journey through “Leadership Powered by Common Sense,” who’ve listened to the podcast, shared your stories, and believed in a different way of leading – thank you.
When I started championing servant leadership, some folks thought I was swimming upstream. “Leaders serve? Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?” But you got it. You understood that leadership isn’t about climbing the ladder – it’s about building a stronger ladder for everyone else to climb.
Think about Thanksgiving dinner itself. The best hosts don’t sit down until everyone else has a full plate. They’re checking on guests, refilling glasses, making sure everyone feels welcome. That’s servant leadership in its purest form – finding joy in lifting others up.
Through our conversations about moving from command-and-control to people-first leadership, you’ve proven something powerful: when we serve others, we don’t just achieve good results – we achieve a greater good. Your teams are stronger. Your cultures are healthier. And most importantly, you’re developing the next generation of leaders who understand that true power comes from empowering others.
To those who’ve shared how you’ve transformed from task managers to talent multipliers, who’ve built trust across time zones and video screens, who’ve chosen the harder path of developing people instead of just directing them – you inspire me daily.
This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for a community that believes leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right questions, listening with intent, and having the courage to put people before process.
Thank you for proving that common sense, compassion, and service aren’t just nice ideas – they’re the foundation of extraordinary leadership.
Here’s to continuing this journey together, one conversation at a time.
With gratitude and respect, Doug
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