Levity in Leadership: Keeping Perspective in Q4
As the year winds down and Q4 brings its familiar rush with budgets, board meetings, and year-end reviews. It’s easy to forget that leadership isn’t only about execution. It’s also about perspective.
A little levity can go a long way when the calendar’s full and the stakes feel high. On a recent stretch of travel, a few moments reminded me not to take it all too seriously:
Three Moments of Levity:
1. TSA Time Traveler
A grandfather getting patted down asked, “Can I go through the X-ray one more time?” He got to the airport early and now he knows why.
2. Elevator Button Bandit
An over-served sales guy stepped into the elevator, pressed every single button and got off on 7. My floor was 17.
Note to self: Don’t wear company logo when you have a childlike moment on a business trip.
3. Coffee Shop Diplomacy
Sitting in the hotel lobby for coffee, I watched the barista carefully explain the difference between a macchiato and a cortado to a very confused customer.
After a long back-and-forth, he simply asked, “Do you have drip coffee?”
This Week’s Ripple Effect
Levity shows up in the small moments, a TSA joke, an elevator ride, or a coffee order. Each of these made me laugh, but more importantly, they reminded me to keep my sense of humor close.
A colleague of mine recently shared that a true source of joy over the weekend were wedding stories told by friends and family members.
Levity doesn’t dismiss the work; it makes the work human.
Call to Action:
What’s a moment that gave you perspective when you needed it most?
Share it — someone else might need that laugh today.
