Leadership is more than power or authority. True leadership is rooted in courage and compassion. It is about standing firm when it matters most while still leading with empathy and heart.
Every person deserves great leadership. It shapes how we grow, how we connect, and how we experience life—whether at work, in our communities, or within our own homes.
That belief is at the heart of my podcast, Tim Stating the Obvious. In a recent episode, I sat down with Eric Rogell, best-selling author and storyteller, to talk about his book Lions Raised as Lambs and what it means to lead with a lionhearted spirit.
When I was younger, I was captivated by stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Those tales were full of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. They showed leaders who carried both strength and virtue—men and women who led not just with power but with purpose. That balance between courage and compassion is exactly what lionhearted leadership is about.
Eric explained that lionhearted leadership blends two key archetypes: the warrior and the lover.
The warrior represents courage, decisiveness, and the willingness to take bold action. It is the lion within us—the part that protects, pursues, and perseveres.
The lover represents empathy, creativity, and generosity. It is the heart—the part that connects, nurtures, and inspires.
When a leader learns to integrate both, they ascend into the king or queen archetype. That is when leadership moves from being about control to being about stewardship.
Many leaders get this balance wrong. Some rely only on the warrior, leading through commands, fear, or pressure. Others overuse the lover, trying so hard to please everyone that they lose authority.
The real power comes when you lead in the right order: lion first, then heart.
For example, imagine you need an employee to work over the weekend to finish a project. A warrior-only leader might say, “I need that report Monday morning or you’re fired.” A lover-only leader might say, “You’re so valuable to us, but I’ll need that Monday. I feel terrible asking.”
Neither approach works. The first creates fear. The second feels insincere.
A lionhearted leader would say, “Here’s the situation. We need that report done by Monday morning. I know that means working through the weekend, and I appreciate the effort. You’ll have my full support and flex time next week to recover.”
That version is firm but fair. It honors both the mission and the person. It sets expectations clearly while showing respect and support.
Eric shared a truth that hit home for me: “If it’s good for the king, it’s good for the kingdom.”
Leaders often give everything to others and leave themselves empty. They work long hours, skip rest, and call it sacrifice. But when a leader burns out, the whole team feels it.
Self-care is not selfish. It is stewardship. A leader who is rested, healthy, and fulfilled creates a stronger, healthier environment for everyone around them.
Think of the airline instruction to “put your oxygen mask on first.” If you do not take care of yourself, you cannot take care of anyone else.
Every leader eventually learns this lesson: you cannot please everyone.
There will be moments when you must make decisions that others disagree with. You might even become the “villain” in someone else’s story for doing what is right.
Eric said it best: “Everyone wants to be a lion until it’s time to do lion stuff.”
Leadership requires courage to make the hard choices. It means standing firm in your values even when it costs you approval. The goal is not to be liked—it is to be effective, honorable, and true to your purpose.
Eric outlined seven core values that define lionhearted leadership.
1. Courage – The strength to act even when fear is present.
2. Honesty – Being truthful with yourself before you can be honest with others.
3. Integrity – Aligning your actions with your words and values.
4. Commitment – Keeping promises even when it is hard.
5. Duty – Taking responsibility for those you serve.
6. Honor – Recognizing the worth of others through words and actions.
7. Love – Leading with care and empathy, even when delivering hard truths.
Love is not weakness. It is the force that gives courage its purpose. When you lead with love, even difficult messages are received with respect.
Eric’s mentor used to say, “Pay attention.” It sounds simple, but it is powerful.
Where your attention goes, your results follow. If you focus on problems, you will see more problems. If you focus on growth and learning, you will see progress.
As leaders, we need to keep our attention on what we are building, not what we fear. Focus on the lessons, the wins, and the opportunities that come from every challenge.
Lionhearted leadership is about balance. It is about standing firm with strength while leading with compassion. It means acting with courage, integrity, and love—every single day.
When leaders bring both the lion and the heart to the table, they do more than drive performance. They build trust. They inspire growth. They create cultures where people want to give their best.
And that is what true leadership is all about.
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