Always Be Mentoring Your Replacement | WT #118

Want a tip on how to recognize real leadership? It multiplies itself.

In today’s high-pressure work environments, self-preservation is often mistaken for strategy. People cling to responsibilities, guard information, and build systems around their own indispensability. The thinking is simple: if no one else can do what I do, I’ll always be needed.

But in a mission-driven culture, leadership isn’t about securing your place—it’s about preparing someone else to take your place.

One of the most powerful attitudes a leader can bring to their work is this: I am always training my replacement.

At first glance, that might sound like a threat to job security. But in truth, it’s a sign of maturity, trust, and long-term thinking. It’s the opposite of fear. It’s the heart of stewardship.

When you hire someone with the intention of helping them grow into your role—or beyond it—you’re doing more than filling a position. You’re investing in a future leader. You’re planting seeds of continuity and culture that extend beyond your tenure.

You’re also modeling a deeper truth: leadership is not about holding power. It’s about sharing responsibility, building people, and leaving something better than you found it.

This mindset changes how we interview, how we onboard, how we coach. It reframes competition into collaboration. It encourages mentorship, clarity, and growth—not just for the individual, but for the entire team. And in a world where people are often reduced to roles, this approach honors them as persons—capable of rising, entrusted with purpose, and invited to lead.

The strongest leaders are the ones who prepare others to carry the mission forward—without them.

So ask yourself: if you left tomorrow, would the mission be stronger, more stable, and more alive because of how you led today?