Where Has Your Lion Gone Quiet?
Last month at the SHRM Annual Conference, I had the opportunity to hear Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, President and CEO of SHRM take the main stage in front of thousands of HR professionals.
You could have heard a pin drop.
In a room that large, that's rare. But Johnny has a way of doing that. His presence is commanding, his message is practical, and every person in the audience seemed completely locked in to what he was saying.
One statement, in particular, has stayed with me ever since:
"Find your inner lion."
That simple statement made me think about leadership in a different way.
Lions don't wait until they feel fearless before they act. They move anyway.
As leaders, we often think courage means having all the answers. But in my experience, courage usually looks much quieter than that. It's making the next right decision when you don't know exactly how it will turn out.
Where has your lion gone quiet?
Maybe it's the difficult conversation you've been avoiding because you're afraid of how someone will respond.
Maybe you've been telling yourself you don't have time to learn AI or embrace new technology, even though you know it could help you become a more effective leader.
Maybe you've outgrown the role you're in, but the comfort of what's familiar feels safer than taking a chance on what's next.
Or maybe your lion has simply gotten tired.
Leadership has a way of doing that.
The truth is, courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes it sounds like, 'Let's have the conversation.'
Sometimes it sounds like, 'I'm going to learn something new.'
Sometimes it sounds like, 'It's time for a change.'
The future doesn't belong to the leaders who have everything figured out. It belongs to the leaders who are willing to take one courageous step before they can see the entire path.
As I think about the future of leadership, that's what gives me hope. Not that leaders have become fearless, but that they're becoming more willing to grow.
I'm still pinching myself that I get to share this next piece of news with you with you.
One of the highlights of my SHRM experience was hearing Johnny C. Taylor Jr. challenge leaders to think differently about the future of work. Now, I have the incredible honor of welcoming him to the Live2Lead South Florida stage on October 16, 2026.
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. is coming to speak live as one of our keynotes at my annual leadership conference, Live2Lead South Florida!!!
Never in a million years did I imagine I'd be making that announcement.
If you've been thinking about investing in your leadership, bringing your team, or simply giving yourself a day to step away from the daily grind and grow, I hope you'll join us.
Leadership isn't built in isolation. It's built when the right people gather in the right room with the right mindset.
We're already 60% sold out, and I'd love to see you there before the remaining seats are gone.
👉 Click here to register! 👈
Until next time... keep leading with courage, even when you can't yet see the outcome. Sometimes that's exactly where growth begins.
To Your Growth,
Kelly Merbler