The Friday Five - Leadership Edition

The Friday Five - Issue 15
Challenging leaders to maximize their potential
Terry Wetzel ~ Summit Leadership Development

Your team will never be more disciplined than you are. If you want a culture where deadlines are respected and details matter, look at your own small commitments. If you are sloppy with the minor things, you give your team permission to be sloppy with the major ones. Attention to detail isn't a switch you flip for big moments; it’s a constant frequency. Keep the small promises and a culture of accountability will follow. That which we permit, we promote.

Are you asking your team questions in meetings or only delivering information? If all you are doing is delivering information you should ask yourself if the meeting is even necessary. Secondly, gathering input from your team by asking them questions builds trust, buy-in, shared understanding, and a better culture.

As leaders we sometimes want control over nearly everything because we feel like it will come back to haunt us if something goes wrong. Early in my leadership journey I did the same thing, probably driven by fear and a bit of imposter syndrome. But the truth is, trying to manage everything erodes trust, slows your team, and weakens relationships. Learn to let go, support and empower your team, and stay in your lane. Focus on your role, trust others to do theirs, and you’ll see stronger teams, better outcomes, and a healthier bottom line.

Preparation is the ultimate form of respect for your team’s time. When a leader shows up unprepared—shuffling through notes or clarifying goals mid-meeting—they are effectively telling their team that their own time is more valuable than the collective energy of the group. Showing up prepared isn't just about the “work;” it’s about signaling that you value the people sitting across from you enough to have done the heavy lifting before the clock started.

The goal is for your team to move as fast as possible, but never so fast that they lose sight of the horizon or each other. Speed without alignment is velocity in random directions and wastes time. You’ll cover distance but never arrive at the same destination. Leaders who push for speed without clarity accumulate organizational debt — costly corrections that happen when everyone realizes they’ve been building different versions of the same dream. For "two-way door" decisions (reversible actions), lean into speed. For "one-way doors" (high-stakes, irreversible moves), prioritize alignment.

"The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails."—John Maxwell

I may be getting to the party a little late with this book because it seems like many people have been buzzing about it, but I just started reading it. Although written through the lens of someone in the hospitality industry, the lessons are timeless and applicable to all industries.

Be epic, not average. The world has enough average.
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The photo in today’s edition was taken at Green Isle Park in Green Bay WI
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