If you have been leading for a long period of time you likely have experienced the many ebbs and flows that come with the role. Some of the highest highs and some of the lowest lows. The joy of leading and influencing, coupled with the loneliness of being the decision maker, and the easy target for criticism.

It takes an emotionally resilient person to be a leader. We’re not robots, and we must show some vulnerability to lead, but the truth is the leader carries a burden of “holding it together” when the going gets tough.

It’s hard to find a strong, purposeful, leader who hides from their people.

I was driving the other day and stopped at a red-light. Beautiful weather so I had the windows down. At the intersection a group of construction workers were working hard on a project. A difficult project at that. The kind of work that will callous your hands and sweat your brow. They were in the midst of real struggle. Real work.

Have you ever had a co-worker who was so obviously obsessed with climbing the ladder and “playing the game"? When the boss walks in they sit up straight. They laugh at every important person’s jokes. They put on a show when around “important” people and then their true colors come out around the regulars. They are obsessed with gaining whatever advantage they can. Desperate for the climb, they unfortunately feel when they climb high enough they will be important too.

In the Stay The Course Academy we’ve spent a lot of time focusing on the difference between a transformational leader and a transactional leader. It’s not that all leaders become card-carrying members of one group, but rather that our attitudes and behaviors will fluctuate and flow between the two groups.

There was a time when you weren’t the one in your chair. You didn’t always hold the title or position you have now. It’s possible to remember a time when you didn’t have the slightest clue what was expected for a role like the one you have now.

A truly transformational leader lives a higher standard than the rest of their industry. They not only want to win games if they are a coach. They’re not just wanting to grow profits if they are in business. They won’t just settle for high test scores from their students.

You know you’re living the leadership life when you’ve been criticized and it cut deep. It’s a tough experience for a coach, teacher, principal, pastor or CEO when you take on unfair criticism for doing the things you know need to be done.

When we teach our leadership framework through the Stay The Course Academy we spend an entire week studying the two distinct types of leaders there are in all walks of life. One set is transactional, the other set is transformational.

Words carry weight. Especially when they come from the mouth of a transformational leader. Do you fully realize the power of your words? Maybe you’re the head coach of your own program. Or a principal of your own building. Or the CEO of a successful business. Or just a common teammate like most of us.

Transformational leaders recognize the power of the present. Leadership requires the ability to scan the future for obstacles, conflicts and opportunities.