Leadership is about creating spaces where others can grow. In Championing Organization Wellness, Dr. Simmons illustrates how transformational leadership can begin with something as simple as allowing others to walk alongside you. His coaching triangulation model encourages leaders and aspiring leaders to connect through a coaching conversation and walk together through generational harmony to position them and their organization for optimal performance.
Let Them See What Leadership Looks Like
When I invited Sailors to shadow me for a day, the goal was simple: show, don’t just tell. Leadership today can’t be locked behind closed doors. Millennials and Gen Z expect to see empathy in action. Shadowing allowed them to witness real-time decision-making, and how a leader communicates with thoughtfulness.
We move from a model of command to one of collaboration. These generations want involvement. They value authenticity over authority, and communication over control.
Aligned Leadership
Traditional leadership models built on hierarchy and titles no longer match the values of today’s workforce. We need to evolve toward transparency. That means leading with clarity, and making sure people know not only what we’re doing, but why we’re doing it.
When we align our teams with shared goals, people feel they are part of something bigger than themselves. That alignment creates energy. It builds trust.
Coaching Is the Bridge
Chapters 5 and 7 of COW both highlight a core theme: the power of coaching. Unlike mentoring or counseling, coaching is about helping someone unlock what’s already inside of them. It’s not top-down; it’s side-by-side. This coaching mindset transforms employees into confident contributors and prepares them for leadership roles. It also supports long-term talent management by allowing individuals to gain wisdom from experience, through reflection and encouragement.
When leaders coach, they’re redefining leadership itself.
Today’s Leadership Imperative
One of the most important trends in modern leadership is empowerment. Empowered employees have the freedom to take initiative and act on their best judgment. But empowerment happens by design.
It starts with creating a safe, educational, and encouraging environment. It means giving your team ongoing learning opportunities and inviting them to lead, not just when they’re “ready,” but as part of their development. True servant leadership is about putting others’ growth and well-being ahead of your own comfort.
When leaders shift from control to empowerment, the ripple effect is massive. Teams become more engaged, creative, and collaborative. The workplace becomes a space for thriving.
Building EQ Builds Better Teams
As Katherine Jeffery of Vistage Worldwide puts it:
“Grow your EQ, and you will be better positioned to grow a successful, multigenerational team.”
Emotional intelligence—understanding and managing your own emotions, and empathizing with others—is no longer a soft skill. It’s a core leadership competency. Today’s workforce wants to feel seen, heard, and valued. Leaders who can listen actively, are the ones who will lead sustainable organizations.
Final Thought
Leadership today is about how you make people feel while you get there. When people feel trusted, they contribute, they lead, and they elevate those around them.
In Championing Organization Wellness, Dr. Simmons challenges leaders to coach, connect, and encourage through empowerment.
Allow them to shadow you to appreciate your location. Let them speak. Let them grow. Because when you grow others—you grow your organization.
