By Misty Stevenson
There comes a moment in every business owner’s journey when she’s forced to take a long, hard look in the mirror — not at her brand, her sales or her market, but at her leadership. I recently had one of those moments.
Let me be transparent.
I had to sit down with my team for a difficult conversation. The energy was off. The accountability was slipping. Expectations weren’t being met. And while it’s easy to point fingers outward, I knew I needed to pause and ask: What part did I play in this?
I brought that same situation to the table with my mentors — wise leaders who call me out rather than coddle me. They reminded of something I already knew.
“The team sees the now. But you, Misty — you were called to see what’s next.”
Whew. That hit deep.
See, when you’re the visionary, it’s easy to forget that everyone doesn’t carry the weight of the vision the way you do. They don’t see the late nights or feel the financial pressure. They don’t sit with the strategic plans or pray over every move. But they also can’t be expected to follow a vision they don’t fully understand or feel safe in. That’s our responsibility as leaders.
This day, I didn’t just lead a meeting. I led with humility. I took ownership. I apologized where needed, clarified expectations and, more importantly, I recommitted to being the leader I know I’m called to be.
This is accountability.
This is ownership.
This is leadership.
To every business owner feeling overwhelmed by team dynamics — breathe. You’re not alone. Leadership is heavy, but it’s holy work. Keep going. Keep growing. And never forget: You were called to see what’s next. Go forth with grace and grit.