The trees move with new intent, their branches catching the breeze in ways they didn’t just weeks ago. Light slants differently through the day, and the green of summer begins to give way.

In leadership, we often focus on clarity, direction, and action. Yet at the heart of courageous leadership is something far more subtle: the willingness to listen.

When we’re not wholehearted, we’re not fully present. And over time, the cost of this disconnection can look like burnout, misalignment, and emotional withdrawal.