Out of date leadership is associated with authority, decision-making, and control. However, the most effective and true leaders understand that their role is not to accumulate power for themselves but to channel it outward by empowering, inspiring, and serving others. This principle is best captured in this metaphor, Be a River, not a Reservoir.

A River flows, nourishes, and moves forward, while a

Reservoir holds back, stagnates, and benefits only those within its immediate reach

The Stagnation of a Reservoir

A reservoir collects and stores water, preventing it from flowing freely. Leaders who act as reservoirs hoard information, limit opportunities, and focus solely on their personal success and career. While they may achieve temporary gains, their leadership lacks long-term impact. This stagnant approach creates an environment where employees feel undervalued, growth is stifled, and innovation is discouraged. Unfortunately, this exists in way too many organizations today.

Leadership should not be about accumulation…

It should be about distribution

History has shown us examples of both types of leaders. Those who hoard power and knowledge—whether in business, politics, or other fields—often see their influence wane over time. In contrast, leaders like Nelson Mandela, who shared wisdom and empowered others, created lasting change. As Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” By teaching, mentoring, and uplifting others, he ensured that his impact extended far beyond his own lifetime.

The Power of a River

A river, in contrast, constantly moves and enriches everything in its path. We get to see this firsthand living in the Rocky Mountains. Literally everything that the river comes in contact with becomes better, lives longer and has a great life! A leader who embodies this mindset shares knowledge, mentors others, and creates opportunities for growth. They do not fear losing power by empowering others; instead, they recognize that leadership is about influence, not control. Rivers shape landscapes, carve paths, and bring life wherever they go—just as great leaders shape cultures, develop people, and drive meaningful change. John Maxwell calls it moving from success to significance!

Flowing Leadership in Action

To lead like a river, you have to embrace continuous learning, adaptability, and generosity. This means:

1. Sharing Knowledge Freely – Educating and mentoring others fosters a culture of growth and innovation. I love seeing this unfold in many of my clients today that invest in their teams to ensure their people can become the very best versions of themselves.
2. Empowering and Trusting Others – Delegating responsibility and providing opportunities for others to lead strengthens the organization.
3. Embracing Change and Movement – Just as a river adapts to obstacles, strong leaders remain flexible and open to new ideas. This is one of the biggest challenges of experience – we must stay flexible and adapt to the changing world we are in and make sure we don’t think of all the reasons something won’t work – just trust your team and give it a try.
4. Serving Rather Than Controlling – A leader’s true success is measured by the success of those they lead. We need the mindset of being a parent – we’d never push one of our children out of the way and take the credit for something they did – in fact, quite the opposite would be natural – it should be the same with our teams!

One of my lifetime leadership lessons also uses the illustration of a river in another way.

“A river doesn’t stop flowing just because it’s forced underground”.

This statement is one I heard years ago from our pastor as he was teaching on how our faith sometimes has to go underground but stays strong and carries a deep lesson about resilience, persistence, and adaptability. Here are a few key takeaways:

1. Resilience in the Face of Obstacles – Just like a river keeps moving even when it’s forced underground, we should persist despite challenges and setbacks. Obstacles might slow us down, but they never have to stop us.
2. Adaptability and Finding New Paths – When faced with barriers, the river doesn’t stop; it finds a way forward. Similarly, in life and business, when one path is blocked, we must adapt, adjust, and carve new ways to find another way. I think one of the best motivating statements is when we say, “There has to be a better way”!
3. Hidden Growth and Strength – Even if a river goes underground, it still exists and flows with force. Likewise, personal or professional growth sometimes happens out of sight, but that doesn’t mean progress isn’t being made. We have to bet on ourselves and invest in ourselves to really become a force to be reconned with!
4. Patience and Long-Term Vision – Just because successes aren’t immediately visible doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Like a river eventually resurfaces, our efforts will eventually bear fruit if we stay the course.

My learning here is that we should never change WHO we are and WHAT VALUES we have that are non-negotiable. But we should be willing and adaptive to change what will be beneficial for not only us but those whose lives we influence.

Going one layer deeper with this thought:

I’ve said that all top leaders or owners of any company can be described by one of two “G” words.

1. Greedy – these leaders/owners will never get it. In today’s world, you can spot someone that’s greedy from miles away. It likely will rear its ugly head during the interview process when they try to hire you for the least amount of money possible, rather than paying you for what you can bring to the company, your role and what your responsibilities deserve. If you ever give them a range, they’ll go for the lower number – not the higher number. They will also create unrealistic budgets to ensure bonuses won’t have to be paid out. On the PTO side of things, this is always a red flag if it’s the minimum and not fair for the industry you’re in. On the loyalty front, these leaders/owners live on a one-way street. They want you to be 100% loyal to them, but if you ever need them to be loyal to you, they are nowhere to be found. How quickly they are to discard people at the slightest mistake and literally throw them away. That’s pure greed.
2. Generous – these leaders/owners understand that their success will depend on the way they take care of each and every team member. They acknowledge everyone has goals to be successful and that means you need to be paid for what you bring to the organization. When it comes to bonuses and other benefits – do the scales tip in your favor every time and in every conversation? Salaries are not the only critical faction to this equation. How freed up are you to bring new ideas to the forefront? Do they have the progressive attitude of trusting you to try new ideas? Generous leaders will always get out of the way and put you front and center. Time off and work/life balance is top of mind with these generous leaders. They know that if you’re happy at home, you’ll be happier at work. It’s hard to be happy at home if you’re always at work and work trumps family time. When it comes to loyalty, they understand it’s a two-way street. And in almost all cases, they will be loyal to you to a fault. And that’s ok, they understand all the hard work you do and have done for years behind the scenes. Even though you don’t expect accolades for doing your job – you do deserve loyalty. In those situations, generous leaders gain followers for a lifetime.

My hope is that every leader reading this, will be challenged to be guilty of being generous to a fault!

The generous person is a river – the greedy person is a reservoir!

Conclusion: A Challenge to Leaders

Great leaders do not seek to retain power; they seek to distribute it. By being a river rather than a reservoir, leaders ensure that their influence extends beyond themselves, creating a legacy of growth, inspiration, and progress. Leaders create other leaders!

So, I ask you, “Are you a river or a reservoir? …How are you influencing those around you?” True leadership is not about holding onto what we have—it is about passing it on.

“Choose to be a river and watch as your impact flows far beyond yourself.”