Mark Alan Fish

The Leadership Standard Too Few Leaders Practice

Most leaders focus on performance.

Great leaders focus on people.

And the ones who create the deepest impact — the kind that lasts far beyond any single role or organization — do something different.

They inspire.
They champion.
They celebrate.

Not once in a while.
Not when it’s convenient.

But consistently… intentionally… as part of how they lead.

What This Really Means

In coaching, this is second nature.

We’re trained to see potential before it’s fully realized. To speak to it. To support it. To bring it forward.

Leadership should be no different.

Inspiring is about seeing the greatness in someone and reflecting it back to them. It’s not about the task. It’s about the person. Their energy. Their presence. Their potential.

Championing is what happens before the result. It’s belief in action. It’s standing beside someone and saying, “Go for it. I’ve got you.”

Celebrating is what happens after. It’s honoring what someone has done — so they can actually see it, own it, and build from it.

Simple? Yes.
Common? Not even close.

What Great Leaders Actually Do

As a leader, I’ve had the opportunity to build and lead multiple teams over the years. And if I’m being honest, this has always been one of my favorite parts of the job.

Not the metrics.
Not the reporting.

But watching someone step into something they didn’t think they could do… and then do it anyway.

Because here’s the truth:

Most people already have the potential.
They already have the desire.

They just need someone who sees it — and is willing to stand with them while they step into it.

From Writer to Voice: Stepping Into the Spotlight

One individual on my team was an exceptional technical writer.

Sharp. Thoughtful. Precise.

But what they really wanted?
To be in front of people. To teach. To facilitate.

They didn’t need new talent.
They needed a pathway — and someone who believed they could walk it.

So we created that path.

I inspired them by calling out what I already saw in them.
I championed them as they stepped into something unfamiliar.
And when they did it? We celebrated it.

Not only did they become a strong technical trainer, but they also expanded beyond it. They began facilitating team sessions, leading events, and showing up in ways they hadn’t before.

That wasn’t my success.

That was theirs.

From Fear to Impact: Finding the Courage to Speak

Another individual had a goal that felt almost impossible to them:

Public speaking.

They were terrified.

But they wanted it.

And that matters.

Because desire is the spark. Effort is the fuel. And belief — sometimes borrowed belief — is what gets it moving.

So we went to work.

They practiced. Prepared. Pushed through discomfort.
Again and again.

I inspired them by helping them see what was already there.
I championed them through every moment of doubt.

And then came the moment.

They delivered a one-hour motivational presentation at a team offsite.

And it was powerful.

Not just because of what they said — but because everyone in the room knew what it took for them to get there.

That’s what we celebrated.

And from that point forward?
Everything changed.

From Updates to Energy: Turning Communication Into Connection

Another team member wanted to strengthen their communication — to be clearer, more concise, and more effective.

So we created something simple.

A weekly team segment: NFL updates.

Each team member chose a team. This individual led the updates.

At first, it was about structure and clarity.

But then something happened.

They made it fun.

They started weaving in personality. Humor. Energy.
They connected with the team in a way that made this segment something everyone looked forward to.

What started as a development opportunity became a highlight of our culture.

Again, this wasn’t about me.

They had the desire.
They put in the work.
They made it happen.

I was just there to inspire, champion, and celebrate along the way.

The Part Most Leaders Miss

In every one of these examples, the individuals already had what they needed.

The capability was there.
The motivation was there.

They just needed someone willing to step into that space with them.

And here’s the part that’s hard to ignore:

Too few leaders are doing this.

Not because they don’t care.

But because they get pulled into the day-to-day.
Because the culture doesn’t reinforce it.
Because performance is prioritized over people.

So do we blame them?

Maybe not.

But we also don’t have to accept it.

Leadership Is Still a Choice

Regardless of the environment…
Regardless of the culture…

Leaders still have a choice.

To see people.
To believe in them.
To stand beside them.

This is something I learned over time — through experience, through failure, through figuring out the kind of leader I wanted to be.

And I can say this with certainty:

The leaders who inspired me…
Who championed me…
Who celebrated me…

There weren’t many.

But the few who did?
They made a lasting impact.

And that’s exactly why I chose to lead this way.

The Ripple Effect of Getting This Right

When you inspire someone, you shift how they see themselves.

When you champion them, you help them take action.

When you celebrate them, you lock in that success.

And from there?

Confidence grows.
Momentum builds.
New possibilities open.

It doesn’t just change how they show up at work.

It changes how they show up in life.

A Final Thought

If you’re in a leadership role, here’s something worth sitting with:

Who on your team is ready for more — but hasn’t stepped into it yet?

And what would happen if you chose to:

See them more clearly…
Stand with them more boldly…
And celebrate them more fully?

Because when leaders do this well…

People don’t just perform.

They transform.