June 10, 2025 âą 10 mins
đ§ Episode 167: Leading Through the Hard: What Defines a Real LeaderÂ
In this episode, Sonnie kicks off by going straight into the fire, unpacking what it truly means to lead through hard times. Whether youâre navigating chaos at work, managing internal doubts, or facing unforeseen challenges in life, this episode is the rally cry you didnât know you needed.
We're reminded that leadership isnât about avoiding difficulty, itâs about who you become in the midst of it.Â
We dive deep into:
- Why calm is contagious (and how your team mirrors your energy)
- The power of doing it scared and showing up steadyâeven when you're not confident
- How fear masks itself as leadership and how to call it out
- Practicing radical responsibility and separating fact from fear
- The honest questions every great leader must ask when things go sideways
- How to model trust, resilience, and real leadership culture
This episode isnât just a pep talk...itâs a practical, vulnerable, and empowering masterclass on how to be the kind of leader people choose to follow.
đ„ Because mediocre people donât listen to Evoke Greatnessâand youâre not here for surface-level inspiration.
đ§ What Youâll Walk Away With:
- A proven mental framework for navigating adversity without spiraling
- A leadership mirror to check your tone, energy, and presence in tough moments
- A reminder that growth isnât in the easy, itâs forged in the fire
- Tools to create psychological safety and trust on your team
- The boldness to rise, not just survive, the hard
đ Connect:
đ€ Leave me a voice message with your biggest takeaway from this episode: https://evokegreatness.com/contact-me
đ Share this episode with someone in the thick of it
â Rate & review if this lit something up in you!
A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness!
Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com
Follow me on:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/
https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/
https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness
http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to Evoke Greatness.
We are officially entering yearthree of this podcast and I am
filled with so much gratitudefor each and every one of you
who've joined me on thisincredible journey of growth and
self-discovery.
I'm Sunny, your host and fellowtraveler on this path of
personal evolution.
This podcast is a sanctuary forthe curious, the ambitious and
(00:28):
the introspective.
It's for those of you who, likeme, are captivated by the
champion mindset and driven byan insatiable hunger for growth
and knowledge.
Whether you're just beginningyour journey or you're well
along your path, you're going tofind stories here that resonate
with your experiences andaspirations.
Over the last two years, we'veshared countless stories of
triumph and challenge, ofresilience and transformation.
(00:51):
We've laughed, we've reflectedand we've grown together.
And as we've evolved, so toohas this podcast.
Remember, no matter whatchapter you're on in your own
story, you belong here.
This community we've builttogether is a place of support,
inspiration and shared growth.
Where intention goes, energyflows, and the energy you bring
(01:13):
to this space elevates us all.
So, whether you're listeningwhile commuting, working out or
enjoying your morning coffee,perhaps from one of those
motivational mugs I'm so fond of, know that you're a part of
something special.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for your curiosity,your openness and your
commitment to personal growth.
As we embark on year three, Iinvite you to lean in, to listen
(01:36):
deeply and to let these storiesresonate with your soul.
I believe that a rising tideraises all ships and I invite
you along in this journey toevoke greatness.
(01:57):
Welcome back to another episodeof Evoke Greatness, where we
don't do mediocre.
We're here for the bold, thecurious, those who lead with
fire and grit and absolutelyrefuse to settle.
Today we're diving intosomething real and raw leading
through the hard, not if thehard time comes, because, let's
(02:20):
be honest, they will but how youshow up in them.
That is what separates leadersfrom title holders.
Whether you're leading a teamor a company, or even just
yourself, the way you navigateadversity has a lasting impact.
So let's talk about it themindset, the mistakes, the magic
(02:42):
.
Let's pull back the curtain onwhat it really takes to lead
when things get messy.
Here's the truth.
Fear is contagious, but so iscalm.
As leaders, what we project indifficult times becomes the
emotional temperature of theentire room.
(03:03):
I was watching a reality showover the weekend, and it's a
behind the scenes with ayachting crew and one of the
team members got unexpectedlycalled up to fill a position
that ranks above where henormally is For example's sake,
we're just going to call himBrad I don't remember his name,
but we'll call him Brad and heexcitedly agreed to step into
(03:24):
this role.
And underneath it all, he wasreally, really nervous.
Now the rest of the crew wasshorthanded and everyone was
just making it work.
They were giving 110%, butseveral crew members commented
throughout the episode how Bradwas so calm and cool.
(03:45):
He never exhibited a nervousenergy, he didn't appear
uncertain, and that helped themto just keep trucking along.
Now ask Brad yeah, he wasreally nervous, but he kept
putting one foot in front of thenext and assessing what needed
to be done and he just did it.
He did it scared.
He did it, probably lackingsome confidence, and he knew
(04:10):
that what he showed outwardlycould impact the rest of the
crew.
So he just kept strong andsteady, and neuroscience backs
this up.
Our team subconsciously lookedto us for cues on how to
interpret the chaos.
So if we spiral, they spiral.
If we steady the ship, theygrab an oar, they get to rowing.
(04:32):
But let's not confuse calm withfake positivity.
I'm not saying pretendeverything's fine when it's not.
I think that's inauthentic andpeople can sniff that out.
What I am saying is get rooted,pause long enough to separate
(04:52):
the facts from your fears,Because when you're in fight or
flight mode, your brain isscanning for danger.
It goes back to the cavemandays, when you're waiting to see
if a lion is going to jump outof the bush to eat you.
And so engaging and thinking inthis way, the way that your
brain is scanning, if you're notcareful, you're going to lead
(05:13):
from a place of protectioninstead of purpose and you'll
start managing to avoid paininstead of driving toward vision
.
And guess what?
Your team?
They're going to feel it.
Fear, whispers things like youcan't trust anybody, you're
going to fail.
Play it safe, don't rock theboat.
(05:35):
We've all had these stories goon in our mind and that fear
then becomes projection and ifyou don't check in at the door,
it's going to leak out in yourtone and your decisions and your
leadership presence.
Now, once the dust starts tosettle, it's time to get really
honest.
(05:55):
What actually happened?
Not the story your ego wants totell, not the drama or the
narrative that fear created, butthe truth, what actually
happened.
This is where radicalresponsibility comes in.
So ask yourself, sit back andassess where was the breakdown?
(06:15):
What was my part in this?
What did I miss or ignore orunderestimate?
I have an everything is myfault mentality.
As the CEO, regardless of whathappens in the company, I have
ownership in it, and sosometimes the truth stings.
But that sting, that is thebeginning of your growth,
(06:40):
because clarity leads to action,and action is how we proceed
forward.
Now ask what needs to be truefor this to not happen again.
What needs to be true for thisto not happen again?
Maybe it's a hard conversation,maybe it's more accountability,
(07:01):
maybe it's slowing down beforemaking decisions.
Maybe it's the wrong person inthe wrong role.
Maybe it's giving your teammore ownership or learning to
actually trust them with it.
There's a powerful pattern atplay here, and that is you've
got the hard thing.
(07:21):
That can lead toself-reflection, which can lead
to a clear lesson, which leadsto a stronger leader, but only
if you're willing to do the workand I know you are, because
mediocre people don't listen toa little greatness.
Here's where it gets good,though.
When you lead throughdifficulty with grace, honesty
(07:45):
and intention.
It does more than just solve aproblem.
It shapes culture.
You're showing your team whatreal leadership looks like.
You're creating psychologicalsafety, a space where they know
it's okay to stumble, it's okayto own mistakes, it's okay to
(08:05):
grow, and that builds trust.
And you're also modelingresilience Not the grinded out
kind, but the kind that pausesand learns and adapts.
And people do not forget thatyou become the kind of leader
they follow, not because theyhave to, but because they
(08:26):
actually want to, but becausethey actually want to, because
you show up in the fire and youdon't run, you lean in, you
learn and you lead.
And the best part, thesemoments stretch here too.
They build your emotionalintelligence, they deepen your
empathy, they sharpen yourdecision-making and they chisel
(08:48):
away at the fluff to forgesomething.
Real Leadership is not aboutavoiding hard times.
It's about becoming the kind ofperson who knows how to move
through them and brings otherswith you.
So I'm going to leave you withthis.
The hard seasons will come.
(09:09):
That's not failure, that's life.
But you, friend, you are aleader.
Don't waste the lessons.
Don't waste the lessons.
Don't project the fear.
Do the work, own your part andfind the root, build from it,
(09:29):
because when you lead wellthrough the hard, you don't just
survive it, you actually shapeit.
You become the thermostatinstead of the thermometer.
And on the other side thatchallenge, a more impactful,
more empowering and moreunstoppable version of you
awaits.
And don't you forget that hardtimes do not define you how you
(09:55):
rise through them.
Does so, rise with courage,lead with heart and never stop
becoming the kind of leader thatthe world desperately needs.
I don't know who, but somebodyneeded to hear this today.
Somebody listening isabsolutely in the thick of it,
(10:16):
and so I hope this landed justas you needed it to.
If you know somebody goingthrough the heart right now,
please share this episode withthem.
I wish you all an amazing restof your week.
Thank you so much for listeningand for being here on this
journey with me.
I hope you'll stick around Ifyou liked this episode.
(10:38):
It would mean the world for meif you would rate and review the
podcast or share it withsomeone you know.
Many need to hear this message.
I love to hear from you all andwant you to know that you can
leave me a voicemail directly.
If you go to my website,evokegreatnesscom, and go to the
contact me tab, you'll just hitthe big old orange button,
button and record your message.
I love the feedback andcomments that I've been getting,
so please keep them coming.
(10:59):
I'll leave you with the wisewords of author Robin Sharma
Greatness comes by doing a fewsmall and smart things each and
every day.
It comes from taking littlesteps consistently.
It comes from making a fewsmall chips against everything
in your professional andpersonal life that is ordinary,
(11:20):
so that a day eventually arriveswhen all that's left is the
extraordinary.
Welcome to Evoke Greatness.
We are officially entering yearthree of this podcast and I am
filled with so much gratitudefor each and every one of you
who've joined me on thisincredible journey of growth and
self-discovery.
I'm Sunny, your host and fellowtraveler on this path of
personal evolution.
This podcast is a sanctuary forthe curious, the ambitious and
(00:28):
the introspective.
It's for those of you who, likeme, are captivated by the
champion mindset and driven byan insatiable hunger for growth
and knowledge.
Whether you're just beginningyour journey or you're well
along your path, you're going tofind stories here that resonate
with your experiences andaspirations.
Over the last two years, we'veshared countless stories of
triumph and challenge, ofresilience and transformation.
(00:51):
We've laughed, we've reflectedand we've grown together.
And as we've evolved, so toohas this podcast.
Remember, no matter whatchapter you're on in your own
story, you belong here.
This community we've builttogether is a place of support,
inspiration and shared growth.
Where intention goes, energyflows, and the energy you bring
(01:13):
to this space elevates us all.
So, whether you're listeningwhile commuting, working out or
enjoying your morning coffee,perhaps from one of those
motivational mugs I'm so fond of, know that you're a part of
something special.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for your curiosity,your openness and your
commitment to personal growth.
As we embark on year three, Iinvite you to lean in, to listen
(01:36):
deeply and to let these storiesresonate with your soul.
I believe that a rising tideraises all ships and I invite
you along in this journey toevoke greatness.
(01:57):
Welcome back to another episodeof Evoke Greatness, where we
don't do mediocre.
We're here for the bold, thecurious, those who lead with
fire and grit and absolutelyrefuse to settle.
Today we're diving intosomething real and raw leading
through the hard, not if thehard time comes, because, let's
(02:20):
be honest, they will but how youshow up in them.
That is what separates leadersfrom title holders.
Whether you're leading a teamor a company, or even just
yourself, the way you navigateadversity has a lasting impact.
So let's talk about it themindset, the mistakes, the magic
(02:42):
.
Let's pull back the curtain onwhat it really takes to lead
when things get messy.
Here's the truth.
Fear is contagious, but so iscalm.
As leaders, what we project indifficult times becomes the
emotional temperature of theentire room.
(03:03):
I was watching a reality showover the weekend, and it's a
behind the scenes with ayachting crew and one of the
team members got unexpectedlycalled up to fill a position
that ranks above where henormally is For example's sake,
we're just going to call himBrad I don't remember his name,
but we'll call him Brad and heexcitedly agreed to step into
(03:24):
this role.
And underneath it all, he wasreally, really nervous.
Now the rest of the crew wasshorthanded and everyone was
just making it work.
They were giving 110%, butseveral crew members commented
throughout the episode how Bradwas so calm and cool.
(03:45):
He never exhibited a nervousenergy, he didn't appear
uncertain, and that helped themto just keep trucking along.
Now ask Brad yeah, he wasreally nervous, but he kept
putting one foot in front of thenext and assessing what needed
to be done and he just did it.
He did it scared.
He did it, probably lackingsome confidence, and he knew
(04:10):
that what he showed outwardlycould impact the rest of the
crew.
So he just kept strong andsteady, and neuroscience backs
this up.
Our team subconsciously lookedto us for cues on how to
interpret the chaos.
So if we spiral, they spiral.
If we steady the ship, theygrab an oar, they get to rowing.
(04:32):
But let's not confuse calm withfake positivity.
I'm not saying pretendeverything's fine when it's not.
I think that's inauthentic andpeople can sniff that out.
What I am saying is get rooted,pause long enough to separate
(04:52):
the facts from your fears,Because when you're in fight or
flight mode, your brain isscanning for danger.
It goes back to the cavemandays, when you're waiting to see
if a lion is going to jump outof the bush to eat you.
And so engaging and thinking inthis way, the way that your
brain is scanning, if you're notcareful, you're going to lead
(05:13):
from a place of protectioninstead of purpose and you'll
start managing to avoid paininstead of driving toward vision
.
And guess what?
Your team?
They're going to feel it.
Fear, whispers things like youcan't trust anybody, you're
going to fail.
Play it safe, don't rock theboat.
(05:35):
We've all had these stories goon in our mind and that fear
then becomes projection and ifyou don't check in at the door,
it's going to leak out in yourtone and your decisions and your
leadership presence.
Now, once the dust starts tosettle, it's time to get really
honest.
(05:55):
What actually happened?
Not the story your ego wants totell, not the drama or the
narrative that fear created, butthe truth, what actually
happened.
This is where radicalresponsibility comes in.
So ask yourself, sit back andassess where was the breakdown?
(06:15):
What was my part in this?
What did I miss or ignore orunderestimate?
I have an everything is myfault mentality.
As the CEO, regardless of whathappens in the company, I have
ownership in it, and sosometimes the truth stings.
But that sting, that is thebeginning of your growth,
(06:40):
because clarity leads to action,and action is how we proceed
forward.
Now ask what needs to be truefor this to not happen again.
What needs to be true for thisto not happen again?
Maybe it's a hard conversation,maybe it's more accountability,
(07:01):
maybe it's slowing down beforemaking decisions.
Maybe it's the wrong person inthe wrong role.
Maybe it's giving your teammore ownership or learning to
actually trust them with it.
There's a powerful pattern atplay here, and that is you've
got the hard thing.
(07:21):
That can lead toself-reflection, which can lead
to a clear lesson, which leadsto a stronger leader, but only
if you're willing to do the workand I know you are, because
mediocre people don't listen toa little greatness.
Here's where it gets good,though.
When you lead throughdifficulty with grace, honesty
(07:45):
and intention.
It does more than just solve aproblem.
It shapes culture.
You're showing your team whatreal leadership looks like.
You're creating psychologicalsafety, a space where they know
it's okay to stumble, it's okayto own mistakes, it's okay to
(08:05):
grow, and that builds trust.
And you're also modelingresilience Not the grinded out
kind, but the kind that pausesand learns and adapts.
And people do not forget thatyou become the kind of leader
they follow, not because theyhave to, but because they
(08:26):
actually want to, but becausethey actually want to, because
you show up in the fire and youdon't run, you lean in, you
learn and you lead.
And the best part, thesemoments stretch here too.
They build your emotionalintelligence, they deepen your
empathy, they sharpen yourdecision-making and they chisel
(08:48):
away at the fluff to forgesomething.
Real Leadership is not aboutavoiding hard times.
It's about becoming the kind ofperson who knows how to move
through them and brings otherswith you.
So I'm going to leave you withthis.
The hard seasons will come.
(09:09):
That's not failure, that's life.
But you, friend, you are aleader.
Don't waste the lessons.
Don't waste the lessons.
Don't project the fear.
Do the work, own your part andfind the root, build from it,
(09:29):
because when you lead wellthrough the hard, you don't just
survive it, you actually shapeit.
You become the thermostatinstead of the thermometer.
And on the other side thatchallenge, a more impactful,
more empowering and moreunstoppable version of you
awaits.
And don't you forget that hardtimes do not define you how you
(09:55):
rise through them.
Does so, rise with courage,lead with heart and never stop
becoming the kind of leader thatthe world desperately needs.
I don't know who, but somebodyneeded to hear this today.
Somebody listening isabsolutely in the thick of it,
(10:16):
and so I hope this landed justas you needed it to.
If you know somebody goingthrough the heart right now,
please share this episode withthem.
I wish you all an amazing restof your week.
Thank you so much for listeningand for being here on this
journey with me.
I hope you'll stick around Ifyou liked this episode.
(10:38):
It would mean the world for meif you would rate and review the
podcast or share it withsomeone you know.
Many need to hear this message.
I love to hear from you all andwant you to know that you can
leave me a voicemail directly.
If you go to my website,evokegreatnesscom, and go to the
contact me tab, you'll just hitthe big old orange button,
button and record your message.
I love the feedback andcomments that I've been getting,
so please keep them coming.
(10:59):
I'll leave you with the wisewords of author Robin Sharma
Greatness comes by doing a fewsmall and smart things each and
every day.
It comes from taking littlesteps consistently.
It comes from making a fewsmall chips against everything
in your professional andpersonal life that is ordinary,
(11:20):
so that a day eventually arriveswhen all that's left is the
extraordinary.
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