Picture a house divided, not by physical walls, but by indifference – an invisible barrier that keeps people apart. Now, picture a leader standing at the center, with the power to decide whether those walls grow taller or vanish entirely.

Leadership is not just about strategy or control; it’s about connection, compassion and the courage to build something bigger than ourselves. That is the responsibility each of us holds.

I realized this during my time as the Vice President of Community Affairs at Chick-fil-A and as Executive Director of the Chick-fil-A Foundation. I saw firsthand how leadership can either reinforce barriers or tear them down.

When we founded The Same House, inspired by the words of Congressman John Lewis, “We all live in the same house,” it wasn’t just a vision, but a challenge. Could leadership prove to be a tool for connection rather than division?

Leadership lessons

Conventional leadership is like a pyramid, with the leader at the very top, creating a distinct separation between ‘those who lead’ and ‘those who follow’. This hierarchy can unintentionally foster a culture of ‘us’ versus ‘them’, in which the needs of those at the base of the pyramid are overlooked and overshadowed.

In turn, important decisions are often made by people who are far removed from the lived realities of everyday folks. When leadership is practiced like this, it only reinforces power imbalances instead of breaking them down.

But at its core, leadership begins with humility, the strongest foundation we can offer. During my corporate tenure, I learned that my most impactful decisions weren’t made from the comfort of my office but in moments when I truly listened and positioned myself not at the top of the pyramid but at its base.

Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room; it’s about lifting other voices higher. The taller the pyramid, the deeper the foundation must be, and humility is the bedrock that keeps it all standing.

Leadership is also about forgiveness. I’ve seen how powerful forgiveness can be, not only in fostering relationships but also in fueling innovation. During one of the most challenging seasons of my career, I faced moments where people and plans didn’t live up to expectations, including my own.

For example, when The Same House first launched the Beloved Benefit, we faced significant opposition. Some feared it would divert power and resources away from other community organizations. But instead of seeing this pushback as a roadblock, we chose to respond with grace and to engage in dialogue.

By working through these misconceptions, we transformed skepticism into partnership – and today, the Beloved Benefit has raised over US$25 million to support community-driven work. Growth happens when forgiveness clears the path for us to move forward together.

Finally, great leaders know that their legacy isn’t the power they hold but the tables they build. When I look back on my leadership journey, the moments I cherish most are not the metrics we hit but the connections we made. At The Same House, our mission is to build tables where everyone has a seat, where voices that have been silenced are heard and where collaboration replaces competition.

We put this into practice through Tables Across America, our nationwide initiative designed to bring people together to collaborate on solutions that are deeply rooted in their respective communities.

What makes this program uniquely powerful is its authenticity: we create spaces that tell each city’s story, celebrate hometown talent and provide microgrants to support local nonprofits. With Tables Across America growing in number, it’s a testament to the idea that leadership is about burning down the walls that divide us and inviting others to share in creating something greater than ourselves.

Leadership tips

If you want to turn these ideas into action and start building bridges in your own leadership journey, here are a few tips:

Lead by listening: Listen and listen fiercely. This means putting aside any assumptions and silencing the voice in your head that’s planning what to say next. Think about the last meeting you led: How often did you truly listen versus waiting for your turn to speak?

Now, try flipping the script. At your next meeting, challenge yourself to speak last. Invite your team to share without fear of judgment. Dig deeper with questions like, ‘What aren’t we talking about that we should be?’ You just might be surprised at the answer.

Measure what matters: Traditional leadership metrics, like profit margins or quarterly reports, often miss the bigger picture. Instead, ask yourself: What kind of legacy are we leaving? How many lives are being made better because of this decision?

Redefine your notion of success by measuring metrics like the wellbeing of your team and the impact on your community. Leadership isn’t about short-term wins, but about building something that lasts and investing in people in a meaningful way.

Offer second chances: Mistakes are inevitable, but how we respond to them is the foundation of our culture. Treat every misstep as an opportunity for growth. The next time someone on your team fails, sit down with them and ask, ‘What did you learn that success couldn’t have taught you?’

Reward resilience instead of perfection, and watch how courage replaces fear.

Build community from within: The best leaders are in the business of making space for others to thrive. Take The Same House Collaborative as an example – we’ve created a community where people can come together and prioritize connection over competition.

Within the collaborative, changemakers are given a space to share best practices and learn from one another, knowing that the goal is for everyone to succeed.

Think about your leadership: Where are the empty seats at your table? Who’s missing? Go a step further – did you unknowingly create barriers that kept people out? If so, take action today by making space for voices that get you out of your comfort zone.

It’s often said that leadership is lonely. But in reality, the greatest leaders are those who enlarge their table and break bread with others. So, I encourage you to lead with humility, grace and intention.

How big is your table?

Opinions expressed by The CEO Magazine contributors are their own.