Leadership Has Always Been in You!

As children, we are natural leaders. We dream without limits, explore without hesitation, and create without fear of failure. We see a pile of cardboard and turn it into a fortress. We take the lead in imaginary quests, rallying our friends, assigning roles, and adapting the story as we go.

We don’t wait for instructions. We don’t need permission. We simply act—driven by curiosity, creativity, and a deep belief in what’s possible.

“Let’s build it taller.”
“What if this is a rocket?”
“We need a lookout!”

Without realizing it, we inspire. We solve problems. We bring people together. Not because someone told us to, but because leadership is woven into who we are.

Yet somewhere along the way, we start to forget. We’re taught that leadership belongs to those with titles, experience, or authority. That we need permission to take charge. That we should wait our turn.

But that’s not true.

Leadership has never been about a title. It’s about action. And it’s been in you all along. 

But somewhere along the way, things change.

How We Lose Sight of Our Natural Leadership

 We start to hesitate. We second-guess ourselves. The boldness we once had—the kind that turned cardboard into castles and playtime into grand adventures—begins to fade. Not because we stopped being leaders, but because the world taught us to doubt it.

Education and Conformity

In school, we’re taught to raise our hands, follow instructions, and color inside the lines. Creativity is encouraged—but only within boundaries. Leadership is rewarded—but only when it follows the rules. Slowly, we trade curiosity for compliance, learning that it’s safer to wait for direction than to take initiative.

Fear of Failure

As kids, mistakes were part of the game. We built towers that tumbled, made up rules on the fly, and adapted without hesitation. But as we grow, we’re conditioned to avoid failure at all costs. Tests have right and wrong answers. Workplaces value efficiency over experimentation. Taking risks feels dangerous, so we stop trying.

Social Expectations and Labels

We absorb unspoken rules about who "should" lead. We’re told that leadership looks a certain way—confident, authoritative, charismatic. If we don’t fit that mold, we assume we’re not leaders at all. Instead of stepping forward, we hold back, believing leadership belongs to someone else.

Workplace Hierarchies

By adulthood, leadership becomes something tied to job titles and promotions. We start to believe that real leaders are those in charge—managers, executives, decision-makers. If we don’t have the title, we assume we’re just “part of the team.” So we wait. We hesitate. We assume someone else will take the lead.

And just like that, the leader we once were—the child who built, created, and inspired—gets buried beneath layers of expectation, self-doubt, and hesitation.

But here’s the truth: You never lost your ability to lead. You just stopped seeing it.

And it’s time to reclaim it.

Rediscovering Your Leadership Abilities

The leader you were as a child isn’t gone. They’ve just been quiet, waiting for you to remember.

You don’t need a title. You don’t need permission. You need only to step back into the qualities that made you a leader in the first place—the same ones that once turned your world into an adventure.

1. Reignite Your Curiosity

Leadership starts with asking why and what if—the same questions that once fueled your imagination. Instead of accepting things as they are, start exploring new possibilities again. Why do we do things this way? What if we tried something different? The best leaders don’t just follow paths; they create them.

2. Tap into Your Imagination

Vision is at the heart of leadership. As a child, you saw potential in everything—a cardboard box became a spaceship, a backyard became a kingdom. That same creativity can fuel innovation and problem-solving in your work and life. What can you build, improve, or reimagine?

3. Lead with Empathy

Great leaders don’t just direct; they connect. As kids, we naturally included others, made sure everyone had a role, and looked out for our friends. Leadership is about seeing and valuing people, creating a space where they feel safe, heard, and inspired.

4. Take Initiative

The biggest lie we’re told is that we need to wait—for more experience, for the right opportunity, for someone to tell us we’re ready. But leadership isn’t about waiting. It’s about acting. If you see something that needs to be done, step forward. If you have an idea, share it. Leadership isn’t about authority—it’s about making things better.

5. Embrace Growth, Not Perfection

As kids, we didn’t fear failure; we experimented. We tried, failed, adjusted, and tried again. Somewhere along the way, we learned to fear mistakes. But true leadership isn’t about getting everything right—it’s about learning, adapting, and growing. The best leaders aren’t the ones who never fail; they’re the ones who keep going.

Leadership Has Always Been Yours

Think back to that child—the one who built, imagined, explored, and led without hesitation. That version of you is still here. The world may have convinced you to wait, to second-guess, to follow instead of lead. But deep down, you already know how to lead—because you always have.

Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s not about experience, authority, or waiting for the right moment. It’s about action. It’s about the choices you make every day—the courage to speak up, the willingness to take initiative, the belief that you can make a difference.

So the real question isn’t “Am I a leader?”
It’s “Where will I start leading today?”

Because leadership isn’t something you earn. It’s something you remember.

And it’s been in you all along.