The first time someone called me a leader, I froze.
Early in my career, during a performance review, my boss, a man I deeply respected, said something that changed the course of my life.
After praising my work, he paused and said,
“You’ve been doing great, Jamal. People fall into two categories: leaders and followers. We think you’re ready for more responsibility. Would you be open to leading a team?”
My heart raced.
I pictured the title, the raise and the pride on my father’s face.
But as I opened my mouth to say yes, the word stuck in my throat.
A wave of doubt hit.
What if I let my team down?
What if I wasn’t as good at showing the way as I was at walking it myself?
He smiled as if reading my hesitation.
“You’ll do fine,” he said. “You’ll start Monday. The rest you’ll learn by leading.”
I walked out of his office with mixed emotions: proud, scared, and unsure all at once.
I didn’t know if I was ready to lead.
But I was ready to learn.
That first team taught me what leadership really means.
It wasn’t about the title or the power.
It was about caring more, and being first in and last out.
It was staying late to help someone finish a task they were struggling with.
It was taking responsibility when something went wrong.
It was listening more than I spoke.
Fast forward 25+ years later, after leading thousands, I realized my great boss was wrong about one thing.
People don’t fall neatly into leaders or followers.
We are all both, at different times, in different ways.
Every great follower is also a leader.
And every great leader is a great follower first.
Leadership is knowing when to lead and when to follow.
