Behind the Scenes: A Stick, a Dog Door, and a Lesson in Letting Go
A couple weeks ago, I posted a reel of my puppy, Ellie, who had just followed her sister, Luna, into the house, proudly trotting in with a stick that was way too big to fit through her doggie door, but she managed to get it in. Then, her sister immediately turned around and headed back out the door. Not to be left behind, she did a 180 and started to head out the doggie door as well. However, the stick! How does she get the stick back out the doggie door?
She stood there for a moment, tail wagging, analyzing her problem. I’ll admit — I was just sitting drinking my coffee, waiting to see her next step, thinking, There’s no way she’s getting that back through the doggie door.
But she surprised me. She backed up, shifted her angle, and somehow maneuvered that stick through the door like a furry little engineer.
Take a look at her manuevers.
Was it messy? Absolutely.
Would I have done it differently? Probably.
But did she get the job done? 100%.
And that got me thinking…
Own Your Take: Leadership Isn’t About Control — It’s About Curiosity
As leaders, we often have a mental picture of how something should be done. We want to guide, shape, and ensure things happen efficiently, maybe even perfectly.
But great leadership isn’t about demanding your way. It’s about creating the space for others to find their way, even if it’s not the path you’d take.
Sometimes, that means watching your team wrestle with a “too-big stick,” resist the urge to jump in, and let them figure it out. Because in that space, growth happens.
The 5 Leadership Skills That Will Define 2026
The leaders who thrive in 2026 will be the ones who can balance confidence with curiosity and control with trust. Here are five core skills shaping the future of leadership:
- Strategic Agility
The ability to make confident decisions when the path isn’t clear.
Agile leaders don’t freeze in uncertainty; they assess, adapt, and act.
👉 Try this: When faced with ambiguity, ask, “What’s the next best move?” — not “What’s the perfect move?”
- Emotional Intelligence
The capacity to understand and manage emotions, both your own and others’.
It’s how leaders build trust, empathy, and connection across differences.
👉 Try this: In your next challenging conversation, pause before reacting. Listen for the emotion underneath the words.
- Coaching Mindset
The shift from giving answers to asking better questions.
Leaders who coach don’t fix. Instead, they empower others to think critically and own their solutions.
👉 Try this: Replace “Here’s what I’d do” with “What options do you see?”
- Digital Fluency
Technology isn’t replacing leaders, but rather, it’s redefining what leadership looks like.
Being fluent doesn’t mean being a tech expert; it means being adaptable, curious, and willing to learn.
👉 Try this: Choose one digital tool this month to master and share what you learn with your team.
- Inclusive Communication
The art of making sure every voice is heard, especially the quiet ones.
Inclusive leaders seek out perspectives that challenge their own.
👉 Try this: In your next meeting, ask, “Whose perspective haven’t we heard yet?”
Link It Back: Leadership Lessons from the Dog Door
That reel wasn’t just cute, it was a metaphor.
My dog reminded me that intelligence takes many forms: street smarts, book smarts, and, yes, even emotional smarts.
Leaders need all three.
Sometimes our job isn’t to remove the obstacle or show someone the way through it. It’s to create space, stay curious, and trust they’ll figure it out.
Direct to Act: Your Next Step
Each of these five skills is explored in-depth in the 2026 Leadership Webinar Series, launching this January.
Twelve sessions. One year. Unlimited leaders.
Practical tools, real conversations, and space to grow.
👉https://shop.zenithperformancesolutions.com/leadership-webinar-series