I love the Georgia Bulldogs. I played football at UGA and still keep up with the program. During a recent press conference, current coach Kirby Smart shared some things he’s learned while leading a championship program. “You will have to make difficult decisions that negatively affect people you care about,” he said. “You’ll be misunderstood and won’t always have the opportunity to defend yourself.”
Leadership is hard, which is why so few people excel at it. It’s about so much more than getting people to listen to you. Good leadership is about managing your burdens well while being willing to sacrifice for others. Understanding the cost of leadership will help you become someone worth following. I enjoyed Coach Smart’s speech. There was a lot of wisdom there. In addition to his wise words, here are 2 more things good leadership will cost you.
1. The Burden of Failure
Failure stings. For leaders, it’s usually accompanied by blame. People will have you doubting yourself. They’ll say you didn’t hit their expectations. You’ll feel like you’re letting people down.
The hardest part of failure is that it’s virtually unavoidable. We all fall short of our relational, emotional, or professional goals. Coach Smart experienced this cost of leadership. In 2023, after setting the SEC record for consecutive games won (29), Georgia lost the league championship game the following week by a field goal. Despite all the previous winning, one loss meant UGA had no shot at a national title that year.
When the burden of failure is at its heaviest, remember that all failures offer leaders a learning experience. Shift your perspective, practice compassion, and lead by example. Your failure doesn’t just affect you, and the people around you will be looking to you for confidence. When failure comes, and it will, stand tall by being resilient. Ask for help if you need to.
2. The Burden of Success
On the opposite end of the spectrum, success usually changes expectations. Consistent success easily lulls people into taking achievement for granted. Just like blame comes with failure, credit comes with success. It’s a hidden cost of leadership, and it can leave even the strongest leaders feeling an unhealthy sense of pride or developing an elitist attitude. The burden of success can be just as heavy as the burden of failure.
My former NFL head coach was good at handling this burden. When I played for the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick demanded hard work and focus, even while winning Super Bowls. There was no time for sitting back on our accomplishments. High levels of achievement require high levels of discipline.
The burden of success can lead to burnout, but humility is the key to handling this weight. Stay grounded as a leader, even when things are going totally right. The top of the mountain feels good, but there is a cost to getting there as a leader. Celebrate the wins, but don’t become puffed up by them.
Sound off: What decisions have you made that led to success with your career, family, or friends?
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “What is the difference between being a good leader and a bad one?”