Sometimes meaningful leadership lessons don’t come from a workshop or a book; they come from a Facebook message—and a picture of a dog.
A few weeks ago, I came across a painting of a spotted dog on Facebook Marketplace. It was quirky, joyful, and oddly magnetic. So I reached out to the seller.
She told me she was helping an elderly friend downsize and find new homes for some of her cherished belongings. They lived an hour apart, and she was another hour from me. While I assumed the distance would be too big a barrier, I continued to respond.
Over the next week, we exchanged messages. She checked details when she visited her friend, answered questions thoughtfully, and treated the process with integrity and care. Each exchange reflected her kindness.
Then she messaged, “I may be coming to your area. Want to try to meet?”
So we did. In person she admitted that she looked me up beforehand (given that she didn’t know me), and she found my posts on transforming workplace culture. “I love what you do and who you are,” she said.
I bought the picture. But what I really received was a moment of human connection with someone who cared deeply for others, extended trust, and led with kindness.
Now that picture hangs in my home, and I smile every time I walk by. Not only is the image joyful, it reminds me how small gestures build bridges.
In leadership, we often frame trust and belonging as strategic goals. In actuality, they’re built in the subtle, everyday moments—when someone replies with warmth, offers a kind word, or chooses to see you.
Relational leadership isn’t a theory. It’s a practice. And sometimes, it starts with a spotted dog.