The People, Process, & Progress Podcast - Let Them Lead for a Change | Anchor Points 01

Episode Date: July 11, 2025

In this Anchor Points episode, I reflect on what it really means to recognize when it’s time to step back and let someone else lead. Whether you’re a parent, a partner, or a project leader, there���s a moment when guidance turns into trust and support becomes space.Inspired by the full episode released earlier this week, “The Day My Son Surpassed Me”, this short-form reflection focuses on the value of noticing and honoring transitions, especially when they catch you by surprise.In this 5-minute listen, you’ll hear:What it means to see strength rise in someone elseHow giving space can be the most powerful form of supportA simple action to help you pause before you reactMentioned in this episode:

What if your mind was your most important workspace in your life, the most meaningful project you'll ever lead? This is people process progress, a space where I share stories and tools to help you lead with intent, build with purpose and live with more clarity. From smart objectives to better sleep, from clear handoffs to deeper connection. It all matters and it all adds up. Remember, it's hope that ignites plans that guide our teams and action that transforms us and the all adds up. Remember, it's hope that ignites, plans that guide our teams, and action that transforms us and the world around us.

Now let's get into this episode. Welcome to Anchor Points, your quick Friday dose of reflection and action from the People, Process, Progress podcast. I'm your host, Kevin Pennell. Earlier this week, I shared a personal story in the full episode that was called The Day My Son Surpassed Me,

a moment in our garage gym that shifted how I see leadership parenting in myself. Today I want to take that moment one step further and I want to anchor and focus on that ownership piece. Ownership is not always about directing every move. It can mean stepping aside at just the right time. It's letting others take the wheel, literally, with your kids when they start driving.

Even if it feels awkward, some folks are comfortable with it, some folks are not. I was actually surprisingly comfortable with my son driving, but stepping aside, whether it's in the car or outside of the car and other life decisions, can be one of the most respectful acts of leadership that you can offer as a parent. So I would say this Friday going into Saturday

and something I'll think about and I'm gonna take my kids, two of my sons to a baseball game and maybe we'll let them pick that or at work let somebody pick how we develop the new system is to think about someone in your circle, right? Are you still running the show out of habit? Are you still wanting to take charge and be in charge all the time?

Or are you offering help and they just want space? Because leadership isn't always about giving the answers. In fact, sometimes it's about creating room for others to find their own answers and letting them work through it a little bit before you jump in. So this we can think about, pick one interaction, your kid, your partner, your coworker, someone that works for you or whatever and ask, do you want feedback or do you just want to talk? And then sit back and listen and respond to what they tell you, right?

How they would like to tell you and ask them directly, like how would you like me to respond to this? And a simple pause can give them exactly maybe what they need to lead themselves, not just to think, oh, I have to have the right answer all the time or well, they're gonna tell me what to do anyway, right? To micromanage them, if you will,

but rather to let them figure it out. Remember that quote from Ryan Holiday what to do anyway, right? To micromanage them, if you will. But rather, to let them figure it out. Remember that quote from Ryan Holiday, it was awesome, right? Your job isn't to raise a good kid, it's to raise a good adult. So that one flipped my perspective. It's a good focus, not just on the now, but where are they gonna be in five, 10, 15, 20 years? Right, and it's not about just guiding people in the moment,

but preparing them for those moments when we're not there. So thank you for checking out this new kind of angle of the Instead of Foundations Friday, this anchor point. We'll reiterate the anchor point from the previous episode and if this resonated with you, read the whole thing on peopleprocessprogress.com where you can read the full right up and then listen to the July 7th episode, the day my son surpassed me.

For more episodes, go to peopleProcessProgress.com. You can also take an evaluation, a self-evaluation to see which of those seven pillars that are the stability equation of ownership, mindfulness, movement, boundaries, connection, sleep, and faith you need to work on. There's a short quiz and there's a longer quiz where you actually answer a series of questions that will help you determine, hey, maybe I need to take more ownership or maybe I need to get more movement, or work on my sleep. But give it a try, it's on the

peopleprocessprogress.com website. You can learn more about me, you can buy the book, which would be great, it's available on Amazon, as a Kindle paperback or hard copy. You can follow me on X and Instagram, at PanelKG, P-A-N-E-L-L-K-G. You can go to the Panel 5 Fitness YouTube channel, we're back to that, I did the own move anchor thing for a little bit,

but we're back to what kind of built us up, got you involved, feedback that you gave me about there. It's workout shorts, it's jujitsu, lefts and learned, it's some cold plunges, there's still some food reviews on there, but that's the primary focus is exercise, jujitsu, and really anchoring, which for me is cold and breath work and stuff like that.

I'm also on LinkedIn, so feel free to read my history and connect there. Send me a note. Let me know who you are, why you want to connect. That is always good. In the meantime, keep showing up. Remember that Hope Ignites plans guide us and it's action that transforms us and those around us. Godspeed y'all.