Some the best leadership isn’t out front, but rather alongside

I was out on the walking trail with a friend recently, just catching up and enjoying the kind of quiet you only get outdoors. At one point the path narrowed, and one of us drifted ahead without thinking. We stopped, laughed, and naturally fell back into step—side-by-side.

And it reminded me how much leadership feels the same way.

Some of the best mentoring doesn’t happen from out front. It happens when you choose to walk with someone. Same pace. Same path. Close enough to hear the things they aren’t saying yet. Close enough to notice when their stride changes.

When we lead from the side:

• We team up instead of taking over.

• We ask more than we instruct.

• We support without overshadowing.

• We build trust because we’re actually present.

And the upside?
People step into their strengths.
Ideas get better.
Relationships deepen.
Teams move with more confidence and agility.

That simple moment on the trail was a good reminder for me: you don’t have to be out front to lead well. Sometimes the most meaningful leadership is shoulder-to-shoulder.

If you’re like me, the walk is always better when you take it together.