As a leader, you can sometimes feel lonely. Your role is to tirelessly serve your team members by giving them the tools, resources, and guidance they need to become the best they can be. All the best leaders I know have admitted to thinking about giving up, saying, "It's too much responsibility for one person." Why? Besides worrying about running the business properly, leaders who care are constantly concerned about their teams. Are they happy? Are they growing? Do they have what they need to feel successful and satisfied? Which can actually make that leader eventually ponder: "I wonder if they care about me as much as I care about them?"

3 Words That Meant The World To Me

A little over a month ago, I got a terrible phone call at work. It was from my father. He was letting me know the cancer he'd been battling for over two years had gone to his brain. I could tell in his voice he was losing the battle. Living a thousand miles a way, I was completely helpless. I hung up the phone and fell apart. For the first time, my entire team saw me come undone.

The news devastated me in a way I've never felt before. My father had been one of the biggest supporters of my career and instrumental in my decision to start the little company my team and I are all now passionately working on. 

Several hours later, my team came to me as a group, sat me down, and told me they wanted me to go be with my dad. I immediately pushed back and said I wasn't sure how long I'd be gone. To which they simply said: 

"J.T. ... We got this."

They went on to explain they felt confident in their abilities, had been trained well, and knew the mission of the company. It was clear they felt 100% capable of running things. More importantly, I could see they really wanted to. The relief they gave me that day will never, ever be forgotten. Those three little words gave me something I desperately needed - the ability to be with my dad without worry.

Not only was I able to tell my dad in person everything I wanted him to hear, I was by his side when he passed. I know how lucky I was to get that opportunity. I'm sad he will never meet the wonderful team of co-workers that supported me through this difficult time. My dad was a former CEO and accomplished leader, and I know he would be very impressed and proud of each one of them.

Employees, You Hold An Incredible Power

For any employees out there reading this, please know the incredible power you hold. Hearing you say, "we got this," is the best gift you can give a leader in their time of need. They'll never ask you to say it. In their minds, it's their job to care for you. Which is why, when you offer it, it means so much.

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J. T. O’Donnell

CEO of CAREEREALISM & CareerHMO