Leading From the Front--and From the Back
Leadership is full of paradoxes, but one of the most important is this: you set the course, and you fuel the people walking it. It sounds simple, almost obvious, yet it’s one of the easiest things for leaders to forget. We spend so much time casting vision, building strategy, or representing the organization publicly that leadership can drift into something performed mostly from the front.
But real leadership is also expressed in the quiet, often unnoticed choices we make to support others when they step into the spotlight. It shows up in the way we prepare a team member for success, how we remove small obstacles, and how we reinforce, through action rather than words, that we are invested in their growth.
I was reminded of this at a recent industry conference where one of my team members was presenting. I’d encouraged our staff to take a more visible role at these events, and he had stepped up to do exactly that. My role that day wasn’t to take the stage, but to support him as he did.
I went to his session and sat in the second row. He had put in the work, rehearsed his material, and was ready to deliver. A few minutes before the session started, he realized he didn’t have a bottle of water. He turned, saw me, and asked if I could grab one.
He wasn't asking "the CEO." He was asking the person who set the direction and promised support.
I didn’t hesitate. I got up and found the water.
Now, this is the part where leaders sometimes feel awkward telling the story. Fetching water as a CEO can sound like humble-bragging or theatrics. But that’s not what this was. This was a microcosm of a principle I fully believe in: if someone is doing their part to fulfill the mission, then leadership’s role, my role, is to remove friction, reduce stress, and make success easier for them to achieve.
He delivered the presentation, and it went well. And while we didn’t high-five afterward or dissect the symbolism of the whole exchange, a layer of trust was added to our working relationship because trust isn’t built in grand gestures. It’s built in the small ways we show up for one another.
When employees see their leaders setting the direction and standing behind them as they execute that direction, something powerful happens. People become more willing to take risks. They become more willing to grow. They become more willing to lead in their own areas because they know they won’t be left exposed if something goes sideways.
Leading from the Front Creates Clarity
Leading from the front creates clarity.
Leading from the back creates confidence.
When leaders fail, it’s often because they cling too tightly to one role. Some only lead from the front: issuing directives, projecting vision, and positioning themselves as the face of the effort. Others only lead from the back: being supportive but imprecise, encouraging but without purpose. The true challenge is being willing to shift between the two positions fluidly and humbly.
Leadership Is Measured by Support
That day at the conference, my leadership didn’t look like taking a stage, signing an agreement, or rolling out a new strategy. It looked like walking down a hallway to get a bottle of water, and it reminded me that leadership isn’t measured by the size of the action but by the spirit behind it.
When your team knows you’ll step up to lead and step back to support, they follow you not because they have to, but because they trust where you’re going, and they trust that you’ll never ask them to walk alone.
That’s the balance.
That’s the job.
That’s leading from the front and from the back.
About the Author
Randy is a seasoned executive leader currently serving as the President and CEO of IACET, a non-profit accrediting body in the continuing education and training sector. With a focus on strategic vision and operational excellence, he effectively leads the organization to achieve its mission and goals.
With over two decades of experience in various leadership roles, Randy has a proven track record of driving organizational success. His expertise lies in aligning technological solutions with strategic objectives, ensuring operational efficiency and sustainable growth.