Ever wonder what leaders are really thinking behind the boardroom doors? Years ago, I pictured leadership as some distant, flawless thing—suits, fancy jargon, and bravado. Then I heard John Maxwell and Dave Ramsey riff about being a 'hippo' one day and an 'eagle' the next, and everything changed. Turns out, winning at leadership often means getting a little muddy, being fully yourself, and never losing sight of those you serve. Sound odd? Let’s pull back the curtain on what true 'high road leadership' looks like when the spotlight’s off and the pressure’s on.
The Perks—and Pitfalls—of Leading in a Divided World
Why Bringing People Together Matters Now, More Than Ever
In today’s polarized climate, leadership is less about authority and more about bringing people together. As John C. Maxwell, named the #1 leadership expert by Inc Magazine, emphasizes in his book High Road Leadership, unity isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity. When the world feels divided, leaders who can unite teams around shared values and goals stand out. They create cultures where trust grows, ideas flourish, and progress happens, even when opinions differ.
Lessons from Leadership Giants: Thriving Amidst Division
Both Maxwell and Dave Ramsey have spent decades teaching that leadership is a calling to nobility. As Ramsey recalls, “I remember listening to the John Maxwell tapes when I was a brand new leader, trying to not be a boss anymore.” This shift—from boss to leader—means moving from pushing people to pulling them together. Maxwell’s High Road Leadership outlines 12 behaviors that define high-road leaders, offering a roadmap for those seeking to build unity in a divided world.
Maxwell’s insight,
“Culture eats vision for lunch.”underscores that what your team does—its culture—matters more than what it says it wants to do. Vision is important, but culture is the engine that drives real results. High Road Leadership teaches that culture is built on daily behaviors, not just big ideas.
The Downside of ‘Sheep’ Teams—and the Beauty of Diverse Opinions
It’s tempting to think that a team that always agrees is a strong team. But as Ramsey points out, “The only time you’ll have a whole team that all looks just alike is if most of them are dumb, because smart people don’t want to hang out like a sheep.” Homogenous teams may seem harmonious, but they often lack the spark of innovation and critical thinking that diverse teams bring.
Research and real-world experience agree: Diverse teams outperform sheep-like, uniform groups. When you lead a team of individuals who think for themselves, you get richer discussions, better solutions, and stronger results. High Road Leadership recognizes this, encouraging leaders to welcome different viewpoints and foster an environment where everyone feels safe to contribute.
- Perk: Diverse teams generate more creative solutions and adapt better to change.
- Pitfall: Leading in a divided world means navigating conflict and discomfort—but it’s worth it for the growth it brings.
Bringing It to Your Team
Maxwell’s approach is practical: sit your team down, review the 12 behaviors of high-road leaders, and ask, “What do we need to do to get there?” This process isn’t about forcing agreement but about building a culture where everyone’s voice matters. As you lead in a divided world, remember: Smart people don’t want to follow blindly. They want to contribute their unique perspectives to something bigger than themselves.
Authenticity and the Mud-Bath: Why Real Leaders Embrace Their Inner Hippo & Eagle
Ditching Perfection for Authenticity (and Why That’s Good News for Everyone)
When it comes to authenticity in leadership, John Maxwell and Dave Ramsey agree: people don’t want perfect leaders. They want real ones. The myth of the flawless leader is not only unrealistic, but it also creates distance between you and your team. Maxwell puts it simply:
“If you need people, you won’t lead people.”Needing approval or validation from your team can hold you back from making tough decisions and from genuinely serving others. Instead, embracing your true self—including your imperfections—makes you more approachable and trustworthy. This is the foundation of high road leadership: leading with honesty, humility, and a willingness to show both your strengths and your struggles.
Balancing Humanity—Embracing Both 'Hippo' and 'Eagle' Days
Maxwell uses a powerful metaphor to describe the dual nature of every leader: inside each of us is an eagle and a hippo. The eagle represents your best self—soaring, visionary, and inspiring. The hippo, on the other hand, wants to wallow in the mud, feeling stuck or discouraged. Both are part of your humanity.
- Eagle days: You’re motivated, confident, and ready to lead your team to new heights.
- Hippo days: You feel the weight of challenges, setbacks, or even self-doubt, and just want to retreat.
Authentic leaders don’t hide their hippo days. Instead, they acknowledge them, showing their teams that it’s okay to have ups and downs. This level of openness makes you relatable and builds trust. As Maxwell says, “Every person has hippo in him. Every person has eagle in him.” High road leadership is about embracing both sides and using that self-awareness to better serve others.
Personal Impact: When Vulnerability Makes You a Better Leader
Being authentic isn’t just about self-acceptance; it’s about how you treat others. Servant leadership principles teach us that leadership is about adding value to people’s lives—not just getting results from them. When you show vulnerability, you give your team permission to do the same. This creates a culture of empathy, support, and genuine connection.
- Leaders who care for their teams—both in and out of crisis—build loyalty and resilience.
- Showing up for your people during their “mud-bath” moments (illness, family struggles, setbacks) demonstrates real authenticity in leadership.
- When you lead with empathy, you fulfill the core of servant leadership: wanting more for your people than from them.
As Ramsey and Maxwell highlight, embracing your inner hippo and eagle isn’t a weakness—it’s a leadership mindset that transforms organizations. By being real, you invite your team to do the same, creating a space where everyone can grow, contribute, and belong.
Accountability Isn’t a Buzzword: The Missing Link Between Freedom and Results
Why Empowerment Without Accountability Flops
Empowerment is a popular term in leadership circles, but as John Maxwell and Dave Ramsey emphasize, it’s only half the equation. Giving your team freedom without clear accountability is like sending someone bowling with a blindfold on. As Dave Ramsey puts it:
“We don’t take them bowling and put a blindfold on them.”
When you empower people but fail to define what success looks like, you set them—and your organization—up for confusion and disappointment. Even the most competent team members can underperform if they don’t know what’s expected or how their results will be measured. Leadership accountability isn’t about micromanaging; it’s about making sure everyone knows where the pins are and what it means to knock them down.
Clear Measures and Expectations: Leadership’s Secret Sauce
High road leadership links empowerment to accountability for true performance. Leaders must set transparent expectations and roles from the start. Without clear measures, team members might think they’re winning while heading in the wrong direction. Maxwell and Ramsey stress the importance of upfront conversations:
- Define the track: Clearly outline what success looks like for each role.
- Set measurable goals: Make sure everyone knows how their performance will be evaluated.
- Explain the “why”: Let each person know why they’re at the table and what unique value they bring.
This clarity not only drives results but also fosters appreciation for the diversity of skills and perspectives on your team. When people understand their purpose, they feel both valued and responsible for delivering outcomes.
The Step-by-Step Process: Equipping Others Without Losing Control
Effective leadership development strategies require more than just delegating tasks. Equipping is a multi-step process, especially crucial in early company stages when the leader is the primary power source. Maxwell outlines a practical approach:
- I do it: Master the task yourself first.
- I do it, you watch: Let your team member observe you in action.
- You do it, I watch: Shift the responsibility while you provide guidance and feedback.
- You do it alone: Allow the team member to take full ownership.
- You do it, someone else watches: Multiply leadership by having them mentor others.
This hands-on, gradual approach ensures that empowerment accountability teams are built on a solid foundation. Leaders remain actively involved, especially in small organizations, to maintain momentum and culture. As Maxwell notes, “If you unplug and go sit in a tower and call yourself a visionary, there’s no power left in the building.”
Leadership practices that combine freedom with accountability—and clear, step-by-step equipping—are the missing link between good intentions and real results. For more on leadership development strategies, tune in at 844-944-1070 or join the Entra Leadership Summit, May 18th–21st in Denver.
Wild Card: Would You Rather Be a Weary Warrior or a Quivering Critic?
When it comes to courageous leadership, there’s a question every aspiring leader must face: Would you rather be a weary warrior or a quivering critic? John C. Maxwell puts it plainly:
"It's better to bury a weary warrior than a quivering critic."
This statement is more than just a catchy phrase—it’s a challenge to anyone who wants to make a difference. In the real world, leadership challenges are everywhere. It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and point out what’s wrong. Critics rarely risk anything. They don’t carry the weight of decisions, nor do they feel the pressure of leading others through uncertainty. But the truth is, armchair critics never changed the world. Real progress comes from those willing to step into the arena, even when the path is messy and the outcome is unclear.
Leadership growth is not about perfection. It’s about resilience and the willingness to act, even when you’re tired or unsure. High-quality leaders know that the journey is ongoing. Most high-performing teams are still learning as they go. Leadership is not a finish line; it’s a rolling work in progress. You will face setbacks, make mistakes, and sometimes feel like you’re in over your head. That’s normal. What matters is that you keep building, keep moving, and keep leading, even when the going gets tough.
Taking the high road means accepting that leadership is risky. You might get weary. You might fail. But it’s far better to be remembered as someone who tried, who gave their all, than someone who stood back and criticized without ever taking action. This world needs more high-quality leaders—people who are willing to take courageous steps, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.
So, take courage. Leadership is not about having all the answers or never making mistakes. It’s about showing up, taking responsibility, and doing the hard work, day after day. When you choose to lead, you choose to embrace both the mess and the progress. You choose to be a weary warrior, not a quivering critic.
As you move forward in your own leadership journey, remember the lessons from John Maxwell and Dave Ramsey. Embrace the challenges. Accept the messiness. Keep learning and growing. Most importantly, take action. Because in the end, it’s better to have tried and grown weary than to have never led at all.
The world is waiting for courageous leadership. So take courage—and lead.
TL;DR: High road leadership isn’t pie-in-the-sky—it’s gritty, real, and measured by how you show up for others (and yourself) when it matters. Forget perfection; try authenticity and a hefty dose of accountability instead.
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