The Leadership Pivot: Stop Complaining and Start Leading

We’ve all been there. You’re sitting in a meeting, or you’re watching a manager handle a client, and you can feel the cringe in your bones. You’re looking at the "leader" in the room and thinking, I could have handled that in a way that actually made sense. Or worse, you’re watching them treat an employee with a lack of respect that makes your blood boil.

The workforce is a son of a bitch. It’s filled with people who have the title but lack the vision. But here is the reality check: if you have told yourself at least two times this week that if you were the boss, you would have handled a situation better—then it’s time to stop talking and start doing.

Move Up or Move On

If you know you can do a better job than the person currently holding the reigns, you have two choices: shut up and take the reigns, or create your own space so you can lead the right way.

Complacency is the silent killer of ambition. When you stay in a toxic environment where you know the leadership is failing, you don't just stay stagnant—you become bitter. That bitterness is a signal. It’s telling you that you’ve outgrown your surroundings. It’s telling you that the industry needs your perspective to set it straight. Whether that means applying for that promotion or walking out the door to build your own company, the time to move is now.

Don’t Become the Villain of Your Own Story

The "shoe on the other foot" moment is the real test. When you finally get that position of power, or when you launch your own brand, you cannot forget the roots that brought you there. We’ve all seen it happen: someone complains about a horrible boss for years, only to become that exact same boss the second they get a taste of authority.

Do not become the leader you once hated. If you lead with the mindset that you don't need your team or that their voices don't matter, you aren't leading—you’re just bullying. You’re conditioning the next person in line to lead with animosity, and history will just keep repeating itself.

The Side of Respect

True leadership is about compassion and understanding. It’s about being the person you wish you had when you were starting out. You want to be remembered for being on the side that is respected, not the side that just "won" by stepping on everyone else.

If you see the gap in the workforce, fill it. If you see the wrong being done, correct it. The challenge is waiting for you, and honestly, you’re probably the only one equipped to win it.

Good luck.