I Got to be the Line Leader
Do you remember the line leader from elementary school? The student chosen by the teacher to lead the class to the lunchroom, the library, the gym, wherever you were headed next. It was a special job. Sometimes it rotated, sometimes it was a reward for good behavior. Either way, being the line leader mattered.
Fast forward to today. About once a week at my gym, we run what are called “the ladders.” They are coordination drills that require quick footwork, focus, rhythm, and agility. Early on, I noticed that the fittest and most coordinated people were always chosen to go first. They were the line leaders of the ladders. Up until today, that was never me. But guess what? Today, I was chosen. I gave myself a full thirty seconds to feel proud, and it felt earned.
You should have seen me the first time I ran the ladders. It was honestly funny. I was uncoordinated, I kept looking down, I missed steps, and I received plenty of gentle corrections from the coach. But I kept showing up. I kept practicing. And eventually the movements became more natural. I stopped overthinking. And today, I found myself at the front of the line.
So why am I telling you this? Because the same pattern shows up in our work lives all the time.
Maybe you have been plodding along on a task that once felt overwhelming, and suddenly you realize you are efficient and confident. Maybe you were never the person asked to present monthly financial results to the leadership team, until one day you are. Maybe you have been coaching a direct report for months, tweaking their approach to reducing call response times, and then one day, it clicks.
These moments are important. And yet, we so often skip right over them. Instead of pausing, we move immediately to the next goal, the next deadline, the next thing that needs fixing. We rarely stop to acknowledge progress, especially when it comes from steady, unglamorous effort.
Next time you have a small achievement, I want to challenge you to take thirty seconds and relish the moment. Write it down. Tell your spouse or partner and let them share in the win.
When we pause to mark small wins, we build resilience. And when things get hard, as they inevitably do, we can look back on those moments as proof that effort compounds, that learning happens, and that progress is real.
Sometimes, being the line leader is not about being the fastest. It is about staying with the process long enough to earn the spot.
Where are you making progress right now? What skill, habit, or leadership muscle are you strengthening, even if no one has noticed yet? If you would like support in recognizing your progress, refining your approach, or building confidence as you step into new leadership moments, I would love to help. Schedule a coaching conversation and let’s talk about where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there, one small win at a time.