A brutal game of catch with my dad became a lifelong lesson in perspective. What felt like torture to me was discipline to him. This story unpacks how leadership above the line asks us to move beyond our version of truth, seek the middle, and lead with understanding instead of judgment.

When Temple Grandin noticed cattle pushing back in the chute, she saw what others missed: they weren’t being stubborn—they were scared. That insight reshaped the livestock industry and offers a profound lesson for leaders, parents, and humans everywhere: most “difficult behavior” is fear in disguise. In this piece, I unpack how her perspective helps us shift from judgment to understanding and lead above the line where calm, clarity, and compassion can actually change lives.