Are You Leading the Way You Want to Be Led?
Pooja Desai is known as a legendary healthcare leader. She is a children’s advocate, storyteller, and the author of the Tia Bua Series published in 2023. As co-founder of Heels and Boots on the Ground, she considers herself to be a knowledge donor across multiple platforms, helping adults and children believe in their magic.
Leadership is not simply about giving direction. It is about creating an environment where people feel valued, supported, inspired, and empowered to grow. One of the most important questions every leader should ask themselves is: Are you leading the way you want to be led?
Throughout my journey, I have been known for my legendary leadership across multiple platforms. While titles, accomplishments, and recognition are meaningful, one of the greatest lessons I have learned is this: the most impactful leaders lead their teams the same way they themselves would want to be led.
Authentic and kind leadership is how I lead
I believe in, and have a proven history of, leading with kindness. The more engaged the employee is, the better the ROI and retention are for your business. Teams remember whether they were respected, heard, appreciated, developed, and protected during difficult moments. Leadership is not about control. It is about connection. The strongest leaders understand that their role is not to stand above their team, but beside them.
Great leaders grow other leaders
True leadership is not threatened by the success of others. Instead, it creates space for others to shine. A powerful leader mentors, teaches, encourages, and helps others discover strengths they may not yet see in themselves. They understand that leadership is not diminished by sharing knowledge. In fact, it is multiplied.
A strong leader also understands the importance of celebrating employee ideas and ensuring credit is given where it truly belongs. Innovation grows in environments where people feel safe to contribute, create, and speak openly. Employees who feel seen and acknowledged are more likely to remain engaged, inspired, and invested in the mission. Great leaders do not take credit for the work of their teams. They elevate the people behind the success.
A good leader advocates not only for themselves, but for their teams as well. Advocacy means speaking up when something is right and when something is wrong. It means protecting the culture, supporting fairness, recognizing contributions, and ensuring every voice has value.
One of the greatest traits of exceptional leadership is accountability
Accountability builds credibility. Strong leaders hold themselves to the same standards they expect from others. They take ownership of their decisions, communicate honestly, and remain transparent during both success and adversity. Accountable leaders do not blame others when challenges arise. Instead, they lead with integrity, learn from setbacks, and work collaboratively toward solutions. Teams respect leaders who can admit mistakes, grow from them, and continue moving forward with humility and purpose.
As a strong leader, you also must encourage your teams to grow, glow, or go. Hard choices lead to maintaining the right culture. Leadership is also about celebrating both wins and losses.
Wins deserve recognition because people need to feel appreciated for their hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. Celebration builds morale, confidence, and motivation. But losses matter too. Great leaders do not disappear during difficult seasons. They stand present in chaos, help their teams learn from setbacks, and remind them that failure does not define them. Only growth does.
The most respected leaders are not remembered because they were perfect. They are remembered because they were human. They listened. They remained teachable. They led with accountability, empathy, consistency, kindness, and courage.
The best leaders understand that culture is created daily through small actions. When leaders choose to lead the way they want to be led, they create workplaces, organizations, businesses, and communities where people can thrive rather than survive.
At the end of the day, leadership is not measured only by numbers, performance metrics, or titles. It is measured by the lives you impact, the people you elevate, the trust you build, and the leaders you help create along the way.
So, tell me, are you leading the way you want to be led? What are leadership qualities or ideas that have helped you grow, inspire others, or create positive change within your team? Share your thoughts and experiences.
Read more from Pooja Desai
Pooja Desai, Keynote Speaker, Author, Poet, Writer & Entrepreneur
Pooja Desai is a keynote speaker, author, poet, writer, and entrepreneur who champions children’s advocacy. With 25 years in healthcare leadership, she believes in transformational growth through mindset, emotional wellness, and purpose-driven impact. With a background spanning executive speaking, authorship, content, and program design, Pooja uniquely blends strategy with storytelling, translating complex leadership principles into actionable, human-centered solutions that help build resilience across multiple platforms.
