Blog #2 Letting Go to Lead Better

Not every moment in nature is picture-perfect, but if you’re quiet and open, there’s always something to learn.

Yesterday, I took my two dogs, Coco and Ziggy, on a hike. It’s not something I usually do alone, but they needed the fresh air and so did I. As with many pairs, they couldn’t be more different. Ziggy barrels into the unknown, creating her own trail along the way. Coco is the cautious one, constantly seeking reassurance. When Ziggy climbs over obstacles, Coco goes under them.

With both of them clipped to my waist, they pulled like Clydesdales. After nearly faceplanting multiple times, I was frustrated and ready to turn back. Instead, I paused, unhooked them and let go of control. Just to be clear, we were in the National Forest in an area that few ever hike so there was no one else around for miles. I would not normally let them run freely while hiking.

What happened next stopped me in my tracks. They ran freely, carving their own paths, joyful and completely present, checking back in with me frequently. This is when I found myself breathing easier, smiling, and watching them thrive.

It made me think, how often do we, as leaders, hold on too tightly, unintentionally stifling creativity? When we release control and trust our teams, we not only reduce our own stress, but we also create space for innovation and new ways forward.

There’s never just one path to a goal. But we’ll never discover the alternative paths if we’re too busy dragging everyone down the same road.