CATCHING EGGS

Leadership Is Like Catching Eggs

Imagine you’re playing catch, but instead of a baseball, someone throws you an egg. If you reach out stiffly and grab at it, what happens? It shatters.

But if you soften your hands and let them move with the egg, absorbing the impact, the egg stays intact.

Leadership is the same way. Sometimes, the moments are easy—like catching an egg that’s tossed gently. Simple decisions, everyday tasks, leading a team that’s already thriving. These don’t require heroic effort—just consistency and care.

But then there are the fastballs. The big decisions. The crises. The moments when leadership is heavy, fast, and unpredictable. If we don’t give with the catch—if we don’t create margin, adjust, and absorb the impact—things break.

We break.
Our teams break.
Trust breaks.

And when something breaks, our first instinct is often to try harder—grab at control, force solutions, micromanage, or react emotionally. But real leadership isn’t about trying harder; it’s about leading with wisdom, patience, and a soft enough touch to keep things from cracking under pressure.

3 Ways to Lead Better Without Trying Harder

So, what do we do when leadership feels like it's slipping through our fingers? Here are three ways to lead smarter, not just harder:

1. Loosen Your Grip: Lead with Open Hands, Not Clenched Fists

Desperate leaders grab at control—they micromanage, overcorrect, or try to do everything themselves. But leadership isn’t about holding on tighter; it’s about holding responsibly.

When we trust our teams, empower people, and let go of unnecessary control, we create an environment where leadership flows freely instead of feeling forced.

👉 Try this: This week, intentionally delegate something you’ve been holding too tightly. Let someone else carry it, and resist the urge to step in.

2. Absorb the Impact: Create Margin for the Unexpected

When leadership moments come fast and hard, our instinct is often to react immediately. But the best leaders build in space between the moment and the response—they absorb the weight instead of forcing a reaction.

This means:

• Taking a breath before responding to criticism.

• Asking more questions before making a decision.

• Pausing before reacting emotionally.

👉 Try this: The next time you feel pressure to make an instant decision, give it 24 hours if possible. Create space. Let wisdom do its work.

3. Learn from Broken Eggs: Failure Is a Lesson, Not a Label

At some point, you’re going to drop the egg. We all do. The worst thing we can do in failure is panic and overcorrect. Instead of leading from fear of dropping the next one, great leaders reflect, adjust, and move forward with humility.

Failure isn’t a leadership death sentence. It’s an opportunity to learn.

👉 Try this: Identify a recent leadership failure and ask, “What did this teach me?” Then, instead of overcorrecting, apply the lesson wisely.

Leadership Isn’t About Trying Harder—It’s About Trying Smarter

If leadership feels exhausting, like no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to catch everything, maybe it’s time to change your approach.

Remember:
✅ Lead with open hands.
✅ Give with the catch.
✅ Learn from the broken eggs.

Because at the end of the day, leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about wisdom, patience, and the courage to adjust when the pressure is high.

And sometimes, the best thing you can do isn’t try harder.

It’s just to catch differently.