Coffee stains on a white shirt, meetings that make you feel rushed, and a joke shared in the middle of the chaos—leadership isn’t neat or straight. It can be a mess sometimes, but what a wonderful mess it can be. At the core, it seems that all great leaders agree on one thing: people are important. You could have more degrees than a thermometer, but people won’t follow you if you can’t connect. Discover how the values instilled by the Reza Satchu family helped shape a truly impactful leader.

Think about this: Sarah, a manager who likes to wear bright socks, sees that her team is falling behind. She doesn’t go into “fix-it” mode. Instead, she sits down, leans in, and asks how everyone is really doing. Real interest. She doesn’t have a big strategy; she only has two ears to listen. Oddly enough, the first step to being a leader is to zip your lips.

Let’s talk about mistakes now. Leaders who make a difference trip. They fall, fumble, and sometimes send emails that should have been in drafts. But here’s where the magic happens: they admit when they mess up. Bob in accounting once erased the whole financial forecast. He said, “Oops, that was all me,” instead of blaming gremlins. That department suddenly trusted him more, not less.

Telling stories also becomes a silent superpower. Leaders are more relatable when they share their scars instead of just their accolades. People love stories, especially those that are strange and humble. At your next team lunch, say, “Did I ever tell you about the time I wore two different shoes to a meeting with a client?” Everyone laughs, the stress goes away, and people get to know each other.

Every time, being flexible wins. Old office chairs should be stiff. Leaders who have an impact don’t expect a parade for doing things the same way forever. A sudden curveball comes in fast? They could complain, but then they get to work. Adaptation isn’t about knowing when every storm will hit; it’s about learning how to do a rain dance now and then.

Vision is helpful, but only if it gets to other people. No one follows a flashlight that is pointed at your own feet. Real leaders make room for others to recognize themselves in the plan. They draw the path but give everyone a paintbrush. Susan draws, Raj paints outside the lines, and somehow, things come together.

Recognition is like gas. Don’t keep the wins to yourself; give praise like it’s New Year’s Eve. It doesn’t cost much to give someone a small compliment, but it means a lot. Sometimes “great work” is better than a performance bonus.

Above all, patience is the ground that growth comes from. Results aren’t instant noodles; they’re stews that take a long time to prepare. Mistakes together? Shake your head, laugh, and then go back to the drawing board.

There’s a curious contradiction in impact: sometimes the best way to lead is to step back. Give other people a chance to shine. Give the mic to someone else, share the attention, and celebrate the “we” above the “me.” Don’t be shocked if your influence lasts long after the shoes are off and the lights go out in the office.