How Doughnuts Taught Me to Be a Better Leader

Over a decade ago, I learned one of my most important leadership lessons. It started with a simple question:

What if your employee’s dream has nothing to do with their current job?

I was asked, Imagine someone on your team wants to open a doughnut shop. What would you do?

As their leader, it is easy to focus solely on their performance today. Complete more and better tasks, as outlined in their job description. Or, you could dig deeper.

Asking:

• What matters most to them?

• What are they working toward?

• What do they truly want to be doing?

That day, I realized: Leadership isn’t about getting someone to do a job. It’s about helping them become who they want to be.

When you align your goals with their pursuits, something powerful happens. You unlock motivation, loyalty, and growth for them and your business.

Take the opportunity to identify how their role today can help them build the skills they’ll need tomorrow.

As Dale Carnegie said, “Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.” Not only is it selfless, it’s strategic.

What are your team members’ doughnut shops?

In the end…

Leadership isn’t just about getting things done. It’s about who you help others become.