It’s the end of another year, and for many leaders, this is a season of planning, reflection, and, let’s be honest, some self-reckoning. The temptation to charge ahead with big, bold plans for the new year is powerful. But what about that one tendency—that flaw you’ve carried for too long—that has quietly undermined your ability to lead effectively? It’s there, isn’t it? Like a nagging whisper at the edge of your awareness. Maybe it’s the fear of being exposed, avoiding hard conversations, or the constant need to be the smartest person in the room. Whatever it is, it holds you back.

Leadership transformation isn’t just about team strategy or organizational alignment; it’s about the courage to face the thing that needs to be killed—the one habit, belief, or behavior that no longer serves you or your team. Are you ready to confront it?

Many leaders unconsciously fall into the hero complex, believing their role is to fix every problem, save every situation, and always have the right answer. But the hero complex creates blind spots. It tells us we’re indispensable and that our flaws don’t need to be addressed because we’re “too busy leading.” This mindset isolates us and perpetuates the very behaviors that hold us back.

When leaders embrace The Leader Mindset tool, they shift from being the hero to being a guide. This mindset teaches us to fight for the highest possible good in our people. But here’s the kicker: You can’t fight for others until you’ve fought for yourself. This means addressing the flaw—not hiding, managing, or ignoring it—but confronting it and doing the hard work to change.

In C.S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce, there’s a moment where a man, burdened by his own sin and fear, must decide whether to let an angel kill the thing that is holding him back. The choice is agonizing, not because the solution is unclear, but because the man’s identity has become so intertwined with the very thing he needs to release.

Many leaders face this exact moment. We get to the hard spot—the awareness of the tendency we must change—and we abdicate instead of doing the hard work. Why? because it’s easier to hold onto the familiar than to embrace the unknown. But leadership isn’t about what’s easy; it’s about what’s necessary.

Transformation is hard, but it’s worth it. What’s the one thing you need to kill before the year ends? Identify it, confront it, and take the first step toward becoming the leader your team deserves.

Book a consultation today to start your journey toward impactful leadership.