Glow Getters, Not Showboaters: True leaders don’t chase the spotlight—they shine it on others, lead with care, and make people feel seen, safe, and inspired!
Superpower Check-In: The Top 5 Traits of Squad Leaders Who Inspire, Not Intimidate
Ever worked with a “leader” who thought barking orders was a motivational technique? Yeah—so has everyone. And while that might work in a dog park, it’s terrible in a team environment.
But then there’s the other kind. The ones who walk in and the room lifts. People lean in, not back. These aren’t just leaders—they’re squad igniters. They don’t flex authority. They amplify potential.
And their leadership superpowers? Subtle. Powerful. 100% copyable.
Let’s check in.
1. They Radiate Real Confidence, Not Ego
Meet Bravado Bob. He once kicked off a meeting with, “Let me tell you why I’m always right.” Plot twist: everyone immediately zoned out.
Then there’s Captain Clarity—no shouting, no ego, just focused energy and thoughtful questions. Confidence flows from clarity, not volume. Their energy says, “I believe in this squad,” not “Please believe in me.”
Confidence should feel like sunlight, not a spotlight.
2. They Lead with Curiosity
Inspiring leaders don’t pretend to have all the answers—they ask better questions. Enter Tinkerbell Tasha, who starts every huddle with:
“What are we not seeing yet?”
Her teams don’t just meet goals—they invent better ones. When leaders stay curious, teams stay courageous. It’s not a strategy. It’s a culture.
3. They Normalize Mistakes (and Even Laugh at Theirs)
There’s something healing about a leader who says, “Welp… I totally botched that one—moving on!”
Oopsie Otis once sent the wrong deck to a client—and owned it with a meme, a plan, and zero panic. His team? Inspired. Because when leaders model grace under bloopers, they give others permission to risk, grow, and create without fear.
4. They See Strengths You Didn’t Know You Had
True leaders have X-ray vision for potential—and they say it out loud.
Take Soft-Spoken Samira. Quietly rewrote the entire onboarding doc in her off-hours. Her leader? Didn’t just thank her—he gave her a platform. Now she’s training the trainers.
Leaders who see others help them become more.
5. They Keep the Mission Human
Deadlines matter. So does dignity. The best squad leaders hustle hard without losing humanity. They say things like:
“How are you really?”
and
“Let’s keep this sustainable.”
Because leadership isn’t about turning up the heat—it’s about keeping the fire lit.
✍️ Note to Self: True leaders don’t take the spotlight—they turn it on for others.
Final Call to Action
Start your own squad leader audit today:
Which of these traits do you already bring—and which one could you amplify this week?Lead like it’s a superpower. Because it is.
AI Sidekick Alert: Today’s Quote was unpacked and shaped with more than a little help from my brilliant, behind-the-scenes AI tools.
About Tony
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Tony Brigmon | Speaker—Emcee | TonyBrigmon.com
Tony Brigmon is a party animal. He’s been known to stay up well past nine o’clock drinking root beer and telling G-rated jokes. Sure, the neighbors complain, but that doesn’t stop him. Because Tony is serious about having fun. Serious fun, with serious results.
As a result of his questionable spelling skills, Tony learned at an early age that his name spelled backward is “YNOT.” As in, “YNOT take a closer look at his book?” Or “YNOT smile when you should be crying?”
Tony was a Southwest Airlines “Insider” and the former “face” of their renowned culture as their official “Ambassador of Fun”. At Southwest Airlines, “fun” was the power of “positivity” that helped catapult a small carrier into a force that changed the airline industry.
Today, Tony is a popular speaker, emcee, and author of The FUNomenal™ Workplace. (FUNomenal™ is pronounced the same as phenomenal but it’s a lot more FUN.)
Former CEO of Southwest Airlines Howard Putnam says: “Tony has a gift for blending fun and capturing ideas in a manner that sticks for audiences.” Tony’s friends say that no one should have so much fun while sober. Tony’s wife said she has had about all the cheerfulness she can stand.
“Fun” transformed this author’s work and life. YNOT discover if the serious power of fun can transform the next 30 seconds of your day or 30 years of your life?
YNOT arrange to have Tony Brigmon teach you and your team how the power of fun can help you get more done, bring out the best in everyone, and make you irresistibly attractive in your communication with others. You can do this. So, YNOT?
