What makes a great leader?
Leadership isn’t a title or a promotion—it’s a progression. When I think about the best men and women I’ve worked for over the years, the ones I truly respected all shared something in common: they genuinely cared about the people around them. It wasn’t performative; it showed up in how they listened and how deliberate they were with their actions.
Growing into a leader means moving beyond individual performance. For many high-performers, the hardest transition is realizing that your value is no longer measured by what you do, but by what you empower others to achieve. It is a fundamental shift from being the star player to becoming the coach who ensures the entire team wins.
When does the perspective shift?
Looking back, I didn’t always recognize this in myself. In sports, it felt more like a responsibility than a role. There was an internal drive to influence the people around me, to bring others with me, to help the team win. It wasn’t about the recognition of being a captain; it was about the tangible impact on the group's collective energy.
Early in my career, moving into leadership felt like the natural next step. But somewhere along the way, that shift occurred. That shift is where leadership truly begins. The transition isn’t always easy. I once believed that if I was successful at something, I could teach anyone to be successful at it. That mindset gets tested quickly. Leadership isn’t about molding everyone into the same version of success—it’s about recognizing who people are and where they can thrive.
How do you build high-performing environments?
You build great teams by finding the right people and creating an environment centered on shared standards and accountability rather than forced alignment. When individuals understand their unique role and feel valued for their specific contributions, you create the trust necessary for a group to perform at its peak.
Strong teams aren’t built on individual performance alone. They’re built on belief in something bigger than any one person. When you get that right, people begin to believe not just in the team, but in themselves.
As Colin Powell once said, “Leadership is about people… It’s about people motivating people to get the job done.”
Some of the most meaningful moments in leadership don’t show up on a scoreboard. They show up in people’s lives. Watching someone reach a milestone—buying their first home, supporting their family, creating stability for their future—those are the outcomes that last far longer than a quarterly goal. As a leader, you aren't just managing tasks; you are helping build the foundations for people's lives.
Why is leadership a multiplier?
Leadership is a multiplier because it expands your capacity to impact the world through the growth of others. It’s something you continue to grow into, and as you do, your legacy becomes the successes of those you helped along the way.
I feel incredibly lucky to lead the team I have at Experience.com. Seeing them grow, hit their personal targets, and support one another is the most rewarding part of my career. And the best is still to come.
Logan Abbott is a Sales Director at Experience.com based in Denver, CO. He focuses on building high-performance sales cultures rooted in servant leadership and accountability.
Discussion