Walk in Their Shoes…Literally🔑
When was the last time you actually did the job you’re asking your team to do? Not manage it. Not measure it. Do it. Walk in their shoes… literally?
Here’s the unspoken insight: most leaders rarely experience the work of their team firsthand. But when you do—when you literally walk in their shoes—it transforms how you lead, how you decide, and how you influence
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If everyone sees you like a boss… you are not leading.
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Before we dive in, if you’re ready to stop just being the boss and start being the leader people actually want to follow, check out my books The Valuable Leader series (Book 1 and 2).
They’re packed with strategies to help you see, value, and influence your team in ways that stick.
Leading From a Swivel Chair 💺
Too many leaders sit safely behind desks, dashboards, and spreadsheets.
Sure, those numbers tell you what’s happening. But they don’t tell you why. And that “why”? It lives in the day-to-day frustrations, surprises, and sparks of inspiration your team feels. If you’re only seeing reports, you’re missing the human story.
Ever wonder why initiatives flop even though your metrics looked perfect? That’s the why. And you won’t see it until you step into their world.😉
Herb Kelleher: Leadership That Sweats
Let me give you a shining example: Herb Kelleher, the legendary CEO of Southwest Airlines. Did he sit comfortably in the corner office, sipping coffee while decisions were made? Nope. He rolled up his sleeves and worked the frontlines—ticket counters, call centers, even baggage handling.
Can you picture that? A CEO sweating on the tarmac with the baggage crew? That’s commitment. He did it because he wanted to understand his people and his business in ways spreadsheets could never show. That kind of leadership builds trust, loyalty, and insights no consultant report could buy.
My Personal Story: Walking the Phones
I’ve been there, too. Years ago, I shadowed one of my team members at our insurance call center. I thought I understood her work. Oh no, I didn’t. Within an hour, I was dizzy—managing the speed, the multitasking, the polite but firm tone she had to maintain with frustrated customers.
By the end of the day, I didn’t just thank her. I changed processes. Fought for better tools. And my respect for her—and everyone in that role—skyrocketed. You can’t unsee what you’ve lived through yourself.
Your Walking Orders (Pun Intended) 👣
Alright, time to put this into motion. Here’s how you start:
Here are three action steps you can talk to Lead with Invisible Advocacy…
👣 1. Schedule a shadow day – Pick one team member and spend a few hours living their role. No coaching. No fixing. Just shadow. Watch, listen, experience.
👣 2. Take notes – Capture frustrations, inspirations, the little sparks that make the job tick. Listen with your eyes and heart, not just your ears.
👣 3. Apply one insight – Change a workflow. Remove a barrier. Celebrate a small win. Then share with your team what you learned from walking in their shoes. That step alone builds massive trust.
When you walk in your team’s shoes, you build credibility, you make smarter decisions, and you send a message: “What you do matters so much, I’m willing to step into it.”
That? That’s influence money can’t buy.
Get your blueprint to stop managing people and start leading them by using words.
📚 Your Leadership Challenge:
Herb Kelleher worked the tarmac. I worked the phones. And both of us walked away with eyes wide open. That’s how you move from guessing to making an impact.
So here’s your challenge this week: schedule time to walk in someone’s shoes. 👣Literally. It may just be the best leadership meeting you’ll ever have.
I’m cheering 📣 for you!
P.S. ➡️ Listen to the Podcast here
PS: Before you go, don’t forget: pick up your copies of the Valuable Leader series and start building influence that lasts.
They’re packed with the insights and action steps you need to move from boss to leader—now.