You Can Make A Difference: Even When You Don’t Feel Like You Can
“You are a leader only if others follow. Leaders are only as strong as the connections they make with each person in their constituency—whether they have one follower or one million.” — Strengths Based Leadership, p. 79
Yes, YOU. You are a leader.
Whether you're a parent, supervisor, small group leader, mentor, or volunteer—you have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in someone else's life.
And yet, if you're anything like me, you probably wrestle with moments of doubt: Am I really enough? What do I have to offer someone else—especially someone who’s wired so differently than me?
Here’s the good news:
Leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up with purpose, presence, and heart.
Gallup conducted a significant study on what followers truly need from their leaders and published the results in Strengths-Based Leadership. What they found was both simple and profound. People consistently look for four key things in a leader:
Trust – People need to know they can count on you.
Compassion – People want to feel cared for and seen.
Stability – People are looking for consistency and a sense of safety.
Hope – People crave a sense of direction and belief in a better future.
This isn’t just a checklist—it’s a roadmap.
And the magic happens when you discover, develop, and deploy your strengths in a way that fosters these four things. When you lead from your God-given strengths, you're not only more effective—you’re more authentic. And people are drawn to authenticity.
What It Looks Like to Lead From Strength
For example, one of my strengths is Focus. Here are four practical ways I’ve seen that strength offers hope and direction to others:
I help others clear out responsibilities and tasks that no longer have meaning, creating margin and purpose.
I help people channel their energy and attention in meaningful directions, providing them with a fresh outlook on the future.
I invest in those around me by helping shape the career paths of our team’s most promising leaders.
I share my personal goals and tracking systems with others to foster a strong sense of “team” and inspire progress.
This is just one strength. But when you begin using your strengths intentionally, they become more than tools—they become a gift to the people you lead.
What About You?
As a Parent
Your kids don’t need a flawless parent. They need to know they can count on you. Your steady presence, your belief in them, your compassion when life gets messy—that’s leadership. And when you lead from your strengths—like Empathy, Responsibility, or Positivity—you give your children something they’ll carry for the rest of their lives.
As a Supervisor
Your team doesn’t just need you to get things done—they need to know they matter. When you lead with trust, compassion, stability, and hope, you create a culture where people feel safe, valued, and inspired to grow. When you leverage your strengths—like Communication, Individualization, or Connectedness—you unlock the best in others.
As a Team Leader
You’re not just managing tasks. You’re shaping people. The way you show up in the small, everyday moments often becomes your most meaningful leadership. When you lead with your strengths, you build cohesion, offer encouragement, and bring clarity. That’s not just productive—it’s transformational.
As a Volunteer
You may not hold a title, but your impact is undeniable. Every act of kindness, every faithful presence, every encouraging word reflects the kind of love and leadership that changes lives. When you serve from your sweet spot—where your strengths align with real needs—you experience joy and leave a lasting legacy of impact.
Leadership Is Influence
No matter your role, you have influence.
The real question isn’t if you’re leading—it’s how you’re leading.
The world doesn’t need more titles.
It needs more trustworthy, compassionate, stable, and hope-filled leaders.
The kind who don’t strive for perfection, but who choose to be present.
The kind who build others up.
The kind who are worth following.
Do You Know Your Strengths?
If you’ve never taken the time to discover your strengths—or you’ve taken the assessment but don’t know what to do with it—now’s the perfect time to start.
As a certified CliftonStrengths coach, I’m deeply committed to helping individuals and teams unlock their God-given potential. My role is to walk alongside you—to help you discover, develop, and deploy your unique strengths with clarity and purpose.
Whether you’re seeking personal growth, leadership development, or team empowerment, I’m here to support you.
Let’s start with a free 30-minute conversation.
No pressure. Just a meaningful conversation about your strengths, your calling, and what’s next.
You’re made for more. Let’s discover what that looks like—together.
Photo by Fallon Michael on Unsplash
