My Fourth Toe
I caught the strangest injury in my laundry room. I have this awkward rolling hamper that I banished from my bedroom because it never really worked for me, so now it lives by the garage door. My husband and son have begged for me to move it, but I’ve designated it for the stinky clothes that do not need to make their way inside the house (i.e., my Zumba clothes, the guys’ mow-the-lawn clothes, Les’ golf tees — you see what I mean, EWH). One side has this lock piece sticking out just enough to be dangerous.
One day, I came sliding through the laundry room in a hurry — a hurry to go nowhere, mind you — and my bare foot paid the price. That little lock piece caught me right between my third and fourth toes and peeled the skin off the inside. Do you know how difficult it is to apply Neosporin between your third and fourth toes?! Let me tell you, Band-Aids are not meant to wrap around that toe. The toe hurt, dealing with it was awkward, it was impossible to bandage properly, and it was slow to heal. Even in my sneakers for my Zumba class, every salsa side step reminded me of that tiny, raw spot.
It hit me — leadership is a lot like this. It’s not always the huge, obvious, and in-your-face challenges that throw us off balance. Sometimes it’s the small, hidden spots: a rushed comment, a subtle oversight, a team member feeling unseen. These “small” injuries can linger, sting longer, and be harder to heal than anything obvious.
And just like my toe, it’s not only about what I put out into the world — it’s about what I protect in myself. Rushing through life barefoot around sharp edges leaves me exposed. Leadership is the same: you can’t pour into others if your own raw spots are unprotected. If you neglect yourself, your own wounds ultimately affect the very people you’re trying to lead.
Emotions and Character are the Soul of Leadership
This is about the emotions you can experience in leadership (ie: Honesty, Accountability, Self-compassion, Acceptance, Courage, Trust, Humility)
Leadership is paying attention to the unseen struggles of others and your own vulnerabilities. It is about slowing down, noticing the subtle hurts, and taking the steps to protect yourself while caring for your team. Leadership is not just a performance for others; it is stewardship over the tender spots inside and outside of you.
Call to Action
- Don’t ignore the small things. Move that “hamper” in your leadership — the habits, environments, or relationships that keep tripping you up.
- Pay attention to what keeps snagging your energy and wounding your peace.
- This week, take one intentional step to protect your emotional well-being: set a boundary, say no without guilt, or slow down before reacting.
Because healing your own raw spots isn’t selfish — it’s how you keep showing up strong and whole for the people you lead.
Reflection
- Where might you be rushing so fast that you are leaving your own raw spots exposed?
- What hidden injuries might be quietly affecting your team?
- How can you slow down, protect yourself, and lead with care so both you and your people can heal and thrive?
