I almost wrote him off.
Years ago, I met a salesperson who didn’t take notes, didn’t engage, and didn’t seem to care. I thought he wouldn’t make it. I was wrong. He wasn’t disengaged—he was brilliant. And I nearly missed it.
In my feature for Sales & Marketing, I share the hard truth I learned: Leadership isn’t about managing the perfect team. It’s about taking responsibility for the team you have. That means adapting, paying attention, and sometimes realizing that we are the ones who need to change.
The experience left me with three powerful leadership lessons—lessons I carry with me every single day. Because leadership isn’t about power or authority. It’s about impact.
Who on your team have you underestimated? Their success might just be waiting on you to see it.