The Brutal leadership Drill

Glove and ball

One evening in the alley behind our house, my dad forced me to play catch.

The drill was simple — and brutal. Ten perfect throws into his glove without making him move an inch.

If the tenth was off, we started back at one. It went on for hours.

My shoulder burned. My arms quivered with exhaustion. My anger boiled.

With every throw, I aimed closer to his head, hoping he’d miss. I complained. He didn’t budge.

When the streetlights flickered on, I realized the only way out was through.

I finally hit ten perfect throws. I didn't celebrate. I felt nothing but rage. 😡

That night, I lay in bed and prayed lightning would strike our house and kill him. [not something I'm proud to say].

Here’s the truth I couldn’t see then:

My truth was that I was being tortured.

His truth was that he was building discipline, resilience, and skill.

Both were real.

Both were incomplete.

Let’s Unpack It! 💼

Below the line, we stay trapped in our version of the story. We judge. We insist we’re right and the other is wrong. We demand the world make sense on our terms.

Above the line asks us to step into the middle and seek understanding and question what else might be true.

This video explains 'the middle' in more detail. 👉 MIDDLE

Leading from Above the Line asks us to assume highest intent. Every person is living a story we cannot fully see.

Your truth and their truth may differ. They may even clash.

Here's the truth: Leadership is the willingness to search for the overlap — the place where we can find common ground and agree:

• We all have fears.

• We all have hopes and dreams.

• We all carry wounds.

• We all long for connection and belonging.

The middle ground is where Powerful Perspectives live.

We can focus on our differences — but that feels unnecessarily dark.

Leadership Above the Line sheds light.

• It doesn’t erase pain.

• It doesn’t excuse harm.

• It does expand understanding.

Regardless of whether we arrive at agreement or not, the EFFORT to seek understanding is Leadership Above the Line.

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