getty
getty
A career path isn’t just about climbing the corporate ladder. It’s important to discover what makes you shine and carry that fire along with you on your journey.
Mary Olson-Menzel says it best in her thoughtful new book, What Lights You Up?: “Your passion, purpose, skills, and personality are as good as your paycheck.” . Those are deep words.
So why do over 70% of us wander around the workplace with our heads darkened and our heads down? (If you believe the various data points on employee disengagement.) As leaders, we ourselves It’s time to shine a light on how we can flip that switch not just for the people we lead, but for the people we lead.
ignite the light from within
Too many of us think of work as a job title or checking a box. Olson Menzel disagrees. She says it’s about aligning who you are with what you do.
Olson Menzel calls it your light, the part of you that energizes everything. “It’s not just your career or the path you’ve chosen. It’s what drives you from within: your light, your charisma,” she reminds us.
You may be able to just pretend and go through the motions for a while, but eventually the cracks will start to show.
True leadership of the self comes from this place of alignment. It’s not about following a checklist or just getting things done. It’s about having something burning within yourself that inspires others to do the same.
The 70% problem: Why employees feel bleak
Olson-Menzel estimates that 70% of employees are not “well”. Think about it. That means more than two-thirds of employees walk around doing the bare minimum just to get through the day. That’s an amazing loss of potential.
What’s causing it? Too many of us are stuck in survival mode, constantly putting out fires: meeting deadlines, shuffling emails, and dealing with the next crisis. It’s easy to forget why you’re doing it in the first place. But if there is no connection to your deeper purpose, at that point the light starts to dim.
Then you are no longer operating with your true heart. In my years of working with organizations, I’ve found that people who maintain their sense of purpose see their teams thrive with more creativity, better collaboration, and stronger performance. . Purpose isn’t just a feel-good factor, it’s the competitive edge we all need as humans.
I often recommend declaring your purpose. My opinion is simple. “We’re not here to judge each other. We’re here to judge each other.”
Pivot with purpose
Being a leader or team member is not easy. There are many sudden U-turns, sharp pains, and times when everything you believed to be stable suddenly changes. The trick is learning how to not only respond to change, but also pivot while maintaining your identity. As Olson Menzel points out, “turning around doesn’t mean getting lost.” It’s important to know how to adapt while keeping your core values intact.
We’ve all experienced moments like these, whether it’s a market upheaval or a change in personal path. Maybe your company has been acquired and is currently going through a painful integration.
Purposeful leadership is about more than just survival. It’s about figuring out the best next step for yourself and those around you. Rather than waiting for the storm to pass, it’s important to adjust your sails and move forward despite the turbulence.
Olson Menzel says it best: “Leadership is grace.” That grace comes from staying connected to what drives you, even when everything around you is changing.
light the way for others
Mary Olson-Menzel
Mary Olson-Menzel
When it comes to the topic of leadership, Olson-Menzel makes it clear that leadership is about helping others find their light. “Your light should inspire others to find their own light,” she says. It’s about creating space for others to step into your space. After all, being empathetic can be beneficial for leaders in the eyes of their bosses as well.
CCL’s research sheds further light on this opportunity. In this study, researchers found that managers who showed higher levels of empathy toward their direct reports were perceived by their direct leaders as higher performers.
But it doesn’t happen by chance. It takes a conscious effort to make room for others to shine. Leadership doesn’t happen alone. It’s about having more empathy and uplifting those around you. Helping them find the light strengthens the entire team.
In the midst of the constant pressures we face, whether from external circumstances or self-imposed expectations, our inner light can easily become dim.
Olson Menzel’s book reminds us that our careers are determined not just by what we accomplish, but by how we get there. It’s about leading with purpose, staying inspired by what matters most to you, and helping others do the same.
What makes you bright? This is more than just a nifty title, it’s also a challenge to think about how we conduct ourselves personally and professionally.
Olson-Menzel is spot on. “It’s not about finding the next big thing; it’s about finding what makes you shine.”
Watch the full interview with Mary Olson Menzel and Dan Pontefract on the Leadership NOW program below, or listen on your favorite podcast.
