Daily Prompt – January 19, 2026

I think Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an excellent day for this prompt. MLK Jr was an amazing leader. He was kind, compassionate, enthusiastic, energetic. He was engaging and engaged. Yes those are different things. He knew how to capture the attention of those who needed to listen. He was also open to new ideas.

These are all hallmarks of great leaders. Leadership isn’t just about telling others what to do. In fact, the best leaders, let their people tell them what needs to be done, they just make sure it happens. Good leaders know when to rely on their resources and they know exactly who is the best person for each job that has to get done. They delegate and acknowledge that they can’t do it all themselves.

Good leaders protect their team. They care about their needs. They don’t push them beyond their means only beyond their self imposed limits. What I mean, is a good leader recognizes the potential and encourages their team to achieve it but never pushes them to produce to the point of burnout.

Good leaders also recognize when they need to take a break themselves before they burn out. They know that they are no good to their team if they cannot function. A good leader never puts the mission before the team or themselves.