How does leadership become contagious?

I went to dinner last night with a few dear friends. It’s the type of dinner I hope to still be having 30 years from now: inspiring, though-provoking, good food, great conversation and even better people.

Something happened that I wasn’t expecting though.

One guy had a career year and got a massive promotion. That wasn’t surprising and is well deserved.

What caught me off guard was how much him being on fire and aligned with his vision impacted me. I don’t work with him, his promotion doesn’t directly impact me, and yet I felt lit up and more connected to my own vision.

It’s no wonder that every manager who reports to him was recognized by the company for their performance this year. That shit is contagious. I caught that from eating delicious meat at the same table as him, so I can imagine how his team feels on the daily.

When leadership is done right, it becomes a self-perpetuating cycle where each individual is inspired to step up in their own leadership. This doesn’t happen overnight, and yet it can very quickly ripple through an entire organization. When you see these leaders in action, you realize that they are worth their weight in gold.