Why Leaders Are Made for Hard Times
A few weeks ago, I had the rare opportunity to rub shoulders with a couple of leadership celebrities—at least, they’re celebrities to me. I met Dave Ramsey and Patrick Lencioni.
Dave is a popular radio host known for delivering straightforward, Biblically-based financial advice. He’s also built Ramsey Solutions into a company reportedly worth hundreds of millions—and in the process, become a respected voice in the leadership space. Patrick is a leadership expert and the author of several best-selling books, including Death by Meeting and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.
We crossed paths at the Factor Forum in Birmingham, and I was struck by how down-to-earth and gracious they both were. But it was something they said in a podcast they recorded together that really stuck with me:
“Leaders prove their worth in hard times.”
That idea sparked this post—because I believe that’s exactly right.
Leaders aren’t made for the easy days. They’re made for the hard ones.
Leadership Is Hard
Let’s just be real: leading is hard. If anyone tells you otherwise, they either haven’t done it—or they’re doing it wrong.
I wrote recently about the many responsibilities leaders juggle. That list barely scratched the surface. And since most leadership responsibilities involve people—and people are complex (I say that with love; I’m people too!)—it’s no wonder it can feel overwhelming.
But here’s the thing: if leadership were easy, everyone would do it. Or no one would need to.
Why Leaders Exist
Think about it. If a team were humming along perfectly—no conflict, no confusion, no setbacks—they wouldn’t need a leader. They could just do their thing, business as usual. But how often does that actually happen?
Exactly.
Teams need leaders because teams face challenges. That’s the job. That’s the reason the role exists. In fact, if we ever managed to remove all the problems, smooth out all the rough edges, and create a conflict-free workplace paradise, we’d have worked ourselves right out of a job.
That’s the paradox of leadership: the better you are, the bigger the problems you’re trusted to solve. The more successful you become, the more complex the challenges you face.
The Heart for Hard Times
At this point, you might be wondering: Why would anyone sign up for a job that’s hard, unending, and guaranteed to get harder as you go?
Fair question.
The truth is, it takes a certain kind of person to lead. Some might call us gluttons for punishment—and sure, there’s a grain of truth there. But more than that, it takes conviction. It takes someone who’s willing to sacrifice for something bigger than themselves. Someone who cares deeply about people and outcomes. Someone who’s not afraid to step into the hard moments because they know those moments matter.
Hard times are the only times that need leaders. And knowing you’re making a real difference—for your team, your organization, your mission—makes every hard day worth it.
Questions to Reflect On
How might a shift in perspective change the way you view today’s leadership challenges?
What strengths do you bring to the table that make you well-suited for hard times?
How can you lean into those strengths today to lead with confidence and purpose?
