The House
I take the same route to and from work every day. One the corner before I leave my neighborhood is a house…EVERYONE in the neighborhood knows what house I’m talking about. That house. The house goes all in for Halloween. We’re talking inflatables, giant skeletons, cobwebs stretched across the yard, munnies, zombies, glowing pumpkins — ALL OF IT. Kids love it. Cars slow down to stare. It’s the kind of display that makes you smile… in October.
But here’s the thing: those decorations never come down. Do you hear me? NEVER! November rolls around, then January, then May, and guess what? The skeletons are still standing tall, looking a little out of place in the spring sunshine. Summertime jogs in the early morning have that house as a backdrop. That once-special moment loses its magic because it’s stretched past its season. What was once joy now feels stale — even frustrating.
The Connection
Leadership can be like that house. Sometimes we hold on to emotions, habits, or strategies that worked once, but we keep them up long after their season has passed. Maybe it’s a leadership style that helped us through a crisis, but now it just feels heavy-handed. Maybe it’s anger, fear, or disappointment long after the situation has changed.
The Center for Creative Leadership reminds us that adaptability is a critical leadership competency. Leaders who adjust with the times inspire confidence; those who stay stuck risk becoming irrelevant. Likewise, Heifetz & Linsky caution that clinging to old strategies can cause leaders to lose credibility when the context shifts.
Character-driven leaders know how to read the moment. They don’t cling to what worked yesterday. They reset, clear the space, and make room for what the current season requires.
Soul of Leadership
Just like those decorations, emotions and behaviors have a season. The soul of leadership is learning to feel fully, act with integrity, and then release what no longer serves your people or your purpose. Holding on too long can drain energy, frustrate others, and erode trust.
Call to Action
What “decorations” are you still holding up that don’t fit the season you’re in? Is it fear? Old grudges? Outdated strategies? If you want to lead with character and soul, you’ve got to know when to celebrate the season — and when to clear the yard.
