54. What Leadership Taught Me: Trust, Rest and Grace

✨ Leadership shows up in the big calls and the small details.
✨ Rest isn’t weakness—it’s leadership fuel.
✨ Grace goes further than perfection.

Hi, and welcome back! I’m kicking off this new season of Lead Into It with a solo episode straight from my own leadership journey. Over the summer, I had the chance to step in and lead a public affairs team during an Air Force exercise. It was high-pressure, unpredictable, and honestly, one of the best learning experiences I’ve had in a while.

In this episode, I’m sharing the five big lessons that stuck with me (and that I think will resonate with you, too).

I’ll also give you a quick sneak peek at what’s coming this season. I’m so glad you’re here!

Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn, subscribe to my Sunday newsletter, or reach out at sara@leadintoitco. 

Excited to be with you!

Transcript

Sara Greco (00:00)
You're listening to episode 54 of the Lead Into a Podcast.

Sara Greco (00:06)
Hi friends, I'm Sarah Greco and welcome to Lead Into It. I can't tell you how excited I am to be here with you today. A lot of really cool things are happening in the Lead Into It world, in my coaching work, in the conversations I've been having. But honestly, more than anything, I'm just grateful. Grateful that you're tuning in, grateful that you're giving me a little bit of your time, and grateful that we get to walk on this leadership journey together. Because that's what it's really all about.

journey. None of us have it all figured out. We're learning as we go, making mistakes, growing, and hopefully getting just a little bit better every day.

I think we're at a point in the world where leadership has really never been more important. It impacts so much of our day-to-day lives, not just at work, but in our communities, in our families, and even in the ways we show up for ourselves. The reality is the world can feel a little heavy right now. We're seeing layoffs, economic uncertainty. A lot of organizations are trying to figure out who they want to be in this new world of work with AI. And with all of that, leadership matters.

Think about it, if you've ever had a leader, if you've ever had a great leader, you know the difference it makes. They can make your day lighter, your work more meaningful, and your goals feel possible. On the flip side, if you've ever had a bad leader, you know how heavy that can feel. It touches every part of your life. That's really the heart of the season, and my hope is to encourage you and remind you of the influence you already have.

Every one of us impacts the people around us in more ways than we realize. You don't need a fancy title or a corner office. You just need the courage to show up with intention. Let me set the stage with a stat or two. Burnout is at an all-time high. Two-thirds of employees report feeling burned out. And that's just not in employees. 56 % of leaders report the same, with nearly three-quarters of C-suite executives saying they don't get enough rest.

I don't share that to be depressing. I share it because it's real. I've seen it in the news, yes, but also I've seen it with my friends and colleagues. I've heard it in coaching conversations and honestly, I've felt it in myself. And when I feel it, I know I'm not alone. And that's why I want to be honest about it here, which brings me to the lessons I want to share today.

So in this intro episode, I wanna walk you through a few leadership lessons I've been reminded of over the past several months. Through my work, through the Air Force experience that I've had, and through some very real highs and lows. And then I'll give you a preview of what's happening on the season of Lead Into It. So, let's roll into it.

This past summer, I had the chance to lead a public affairs team during a major Air Force exercise called Mobility Guardian. Now, funny story, at first I actually said no. I wasn't sure what July would look like for me, and I knew how intense this exercise could be. In 2023, I did the same exercise in a different role, and let me tell you, it felt like sprinting a marathon.

But when the person who was supposed to lead the team couldn't continue because of family issues, I reevaluated. And I realized maybe this was the right opportunity for me after all. So I stepped in. And suddenly I was leading a team of public affairs professionals spread across the entire Indo-Pacific. We're talking massive time zones, huge airplanes, moving cargo, and people all over the place. And my team was covering it with photos, videos, and social media.

Now, if you've ever led in a high pressure situation, you know, it's hard. There are moments when you're making the big calls, like when a tsunami warning goes off in Hawaii. Yep, that happened while we were there. And then there's the little moments, like remembering to say good morning or trying to communicate clearly when you've already explained the same thing 10 different ways. That's the point.

Leadership shows up everywhere, in the big things and the little things. And how you show up in those moments really matters. Another big takeaway for me was about tone.

The leader I reported to during this exercise is someone I really admire. She's the Director of Public Affairs for Air Mobility Command, and the way she leads is incredible. Her tone is empowering. She gives clear direction when it's needed, but she's not overbearing, which most of the time, she's pretty hands off. And that's not neglect, that's trust. Because she trusted me, I was able to lead and trust my team.

Even when they were thousands of miles away and I couldn't see what they were doing on the day to day, I had to let go and believe in their abilities. And guess what? They did things better than I could have ever imagined. Now contrast that with someone who might be the opposite. A micromanager. You know the type. Always over your shoulder, constantly nitpicking, setting expectations you didn't even know existed. That tone leaves you so drained. It communicates I don't trust you.

So here's the lesson. Whether you're leading a team of five or a company of 5,000, your tone sets the stage. Empowerment breeds trust and autonomy. Micromanagement breeds fear and frustration. The ripple effects of your tone go way further than you think.

Now let's talk about something I learned the hard way. Leaders need rest too. About a week and a half into the exercise with no break, I hit my breaking point. Everything bothered me. People weren't moving fast enough, tasks weren't getting done the way I wanted. I was so irritated at literally everything. And then it hit me. It wasn't everything or other people. It was me. I was exhausted.

So I took a half day off, just four hours, and it made all the difference. Here's the thing, we like to think that we can push through, but leadership is like being a plant. You need water and sunlight. If you're only getting one, you're gonna dry out. If you're not getting either, you wither. Rest is not optional, it's fuel. And here's the bonus, when I gave my permission to rest, it gave my team permission too.

I literally told them, okay, I'm taking a half day. Tell me when you need one and let's make it happen. Because I knew if I was struggling, they were too. Rest isn't weakness, it's leadership.

In the military, perfection is often the expectation. Lives depend on it. But in leadership, especially in the kind of work most of us do, grace is often more powerful. Because here's the truth. Plans don't always go according to plan. You can map it out A, then B, then C. But in execution, Suddenly you're skipping the step two and realizing it still gets you the three.

Your team will make mistakes. You'll make mistakes. The question is, are you making progress? If yes, then you're moving in the right direction. Accountability matters, of course. But grace builds trust, encourages learning, and keeps people moving forward. Perfection can create fear. And honestly, sometimes grace is what keeps people around. People don't want to remember the project outcome. They want to remember how you treated them.

And finally, last lesson I learned, but not the last in my life. Leadership is both exhausting and exhilarating, sometimes on the same day. It's exhausting because the responsibility falls on you. You're the one people look to when things go wrong, when decisions need to be made, when the pressure is on. It takes a lot out of you.

but it's also exhilarating. My favorite moment of the entire exercise came when we reviewed a final video the team had created. It was powerful, goose bump worthy, and I just thought this. This is why we do it. Those moments of pride, the celebration, and seeing your team shine. That's the fuel. That's what makes the exhaustion worth it. And if you've ever had one of those wow moments on your team, you know exactly what I mean.

So in summary, here are the lessons I learned and wanted to share with you. Lesson one, leadership shows up everywhere. Lesson two, tone sets the stage. Lesson three, leaders need rest too. Lesson four, grace is more powerful than perfection. And lesson five, leadership is both exhausting and exhilarating.

So what's coming on this season of Lead Into It? I've got an incredible lineup of guests. Some military, some non-profit, some corporate. But here's the key. It's not about the titles. It's about the impact.

These are people making a real difference, sometimes on a global scale, sometimes just in their local communities. Leadership isn't one size fits all. There is no perfect formula, but there are lessons and stories that can inspire you, challenge you, and remind you that you're not alone on this journey. Take what resonates, leave what doesn't, and as always, lead in a way that feels authentic to you.

Thank you so much for listening and for supporting this podcast. If you want new episodes delivered straight to your feed, hit subscribe on Apple or Spotify. And if you hear something that sticks with you, please share it with a friend on Instagram, wherever. And one more thing, if you're really enjoying the show, leaving a written review, not just stars, but also a few words helps more than you know. It's how more people find us. I'm so glad you're here and I can't wait to keep leading into it together.

Have a good one.