A Skating Lesson That Taught Me About Leadership
Person wearing hockey skates standing on a frozen lake.
Years ago, I got an email from a lawyer I worked with asking if I thought my husband would teach his daughter to skate. He and his daughter had seen my husband, me, and our kids skating at the local rink the night before.
His daughter wanted to play hockey, but the transition from figure skates to hockey skates was tougher than she expected.
Now, my husband is not a skating instructor. Never has been. He also has never taken skating lessons or played on a hockey team. But he can skate. Fast, backwards, and stop on a dime.
So I brought the request home to him. Without hesitation, he said yes.
The next few months he met her at the rink. He worked with her. He showed up with patience and encouragement. He shared what he knew. He believed in her ability.
Her confidence grew. And eventually, she stepped fully into the sport she’d been dreaming about.
My husband never saw himself as doing anything extraordinary. But I did. I saw him as a leader. An everyday leader.
Leadership isn’t always loud or public. Often, it’s quiet, intentional, and deeply human. It's sharing what you know. Believing in someone's ability. Helping them achieve their dream.
This is what everyday leadership looks like. And it shows up all around us:
A manager who rolls up their sleeves to help their team meet a deadline.
A colleague who welcomes a new team member with genuine curiosity.
A neighbor who offers to feed and walk a dog whose “parent” has to work overtime.
A man who drives his friend to weekly medical treatments.
A community member who steps up to keep a monthly drum circle going through the winter while the usual facilitator is away.
In my coaching work, I see this kind of leadership everywhere—small choices that open doors, strengthen relationships, and help people thrive.
Presence, choice, and a willingness to contribute.
A quiet courage to make a small difference in someone else’s life that might ripple much farther than we ever know.
Everyday leadership.
It matters.
Why it matters is a story for another day.
Stay tuned…
