The Power of Imperfection, Growth, and Results
A lot has changed in the 25 years since I moved to Calgary and started a fitness business. But there are some fundamental truths in business and leadership that have remained the same.
As a young, driven, and passionately optimistic entrepreneur I new nothing about business. Thankfully, my leadership experience as an elite athlete and coach were helpful when building and growing my first teams.
While there have been countless wins, failures, colossal mistakes, seismic market shifts, and transformative learning opportunities during this time, so many things about leadership and business have remained the same. In fact, I would say the fundamentals are more important than ever.
Too often, leadership is painted as perfection: Always having the answers, being strong, decisive, and unwavering. But in the real world, the most effective leaders are those who lead with humility, openness, and heart. Or as Mary Beth O’Neill would say, “with Backbone and Heart”. ❤️
Great leadership isn’t about flawless execution or never making mistakes. It’s about:
- Respecting and caring for your team
- Having a relentless desire to learn and grow
- Acknowledging that blind spots exist — both known and unknown
- Inviting feedback with vulnerability and receiving it with grace
- Taking timely, courageous, and decisive action based on that feedback
- And most importantly, showing up as your authentic, imperfect self
But here’s the truth: It takes real humility and self-confidence to open yourself up to mistakes, missteps, and criticism, especially when you’re in a role where others are looking to you for direction. It’s easier to protect your ego. It’s much harder (and far more powerful) to lean in, stay open, and choose growth.
And let’s not forget: Leadership isn’t just about personal growth or team dynamics. Leaders are also responsible for delivering results, driving strategy, meeting targets, and navigating complexity. It’s a constant balancing act: caring deeply for your people while keeping your eyes firmly on the business goals. When done well, the two are not in conflict, they powerfully reinforce each other.
This level of integrated leadership rarely happens by accident. It takes intention, structure, and support. That’s why working with a coach can be a game changer. A great coach helps leaders zoom out to see the bigger picture. They effectively align personal growth, team development, and business strategy into one cohesive approach. It’s not about choosing between people or performance. It’s about building the personal and team capacity to lead both, sustainably.
The best leaders aren’t perfect. They’re committed. They’re growing. And they’re courageous enough to do the inner work that drives lasting outer impact for themselves, their teams, and the business.
Let’s keep showing up. Imperfectly. Authentically. Powerfully. Strategically.
