You Are Not Required to Jump Out of the Plane
There is a dangerous leadership narrative that says, If you want it badly enough, you will jump.
Jump into overload.
Jump into exhaustion.
Jump without a safety plan.
In my work with leaders, I see this pattern repeatedly. Systems normalize urgency and call it excellence. When timelines are unrealistic and support is insufficient, leaders are still expected to make it work, often at their own expense. I have been there too, jumping out of the plane again and again to prove my commitment to my team, our students, the organization, and the world!
Let me be clear. You are not required to jump out of the plane to prove your dedication.
Healthy leadership includes boundaries. Mature leadership recognizes when expectations are unreasonable. Wise leadership is willing to say, “That solution endangers me, and I will not accept it.”
Burnout occurs when leaders are repeatedly asked to parachute into chaos without preparation, protection, or recovery. Over time, that model becomes unsustainable, no matter how capable or committed the leader may be.
The most effective leaders I know are not reckless. They are discerning. They ask better questions. They choose sustainability over spectacle.
Leadership is not about heroic sacrifice. It is about stewardship. Of your people. Of your mission. And just as importantly, of yourself.
The Call to Lead Differently: Steward Yourself Well
If the only option requires you to jump, it may be time to pause, reassess, and choose a different landing.
Consider these three leadership commitments:
Delegate with intention. Stewardship means releasing the belief that everything must pass through you. Build capacity by trusting others, redistributing responsibility, and resisting the urge to carry what was never meant to be yours alone.
Take power in the pause. Pausing is not quitting. It is strategic. Use the pause to reset, reflect, and shift your approach before urgency makes the decision for you. Clarity often lives on the other side of stillness.
Prioritize what truly matters. Not everything urgent is important. Sustainable leaders protect their energy by aligning time and effort with values, impact, and long-term outcomes, not just immediate demands.
You are not required to jump to be a good leader. Sometimes the bravest and wisest choice is to stay grounded, choose a safer landing, and lead from a place of wholeness.
