Now what? If you’re like most new supervisors, you’ve already discovered an uncomfortable truth: leadership isn’t about the title next to your name. It’s not about a bigger paycheck, a corner office, or positional authority. Real leadership is about earning the right to be followed. This book was written for people like you—those stepping into leadership roles for the first time, or perhaps realizing they want to lead differently than the leaders they’ve known. Leadership may start with a position. But lasting leadership is a responsibility. It’s about putting the leader into the role—not just wearing the title. Throughout my career in operations, leadership, and coaching, I’ve seen what works—and what doesn’t. I’ve learned that effective leadership isn’t about knowing everything or controlling everyone. It’s about building trust, understanding personalities, setting expectations, managing results—not time—and creating teams that thrive even during chaos. Early in my career, I was promoted into a leadership role and thought I had to prove myself by having all the answers. One day, a team member pulled me aside and said, “Jim, we don’t need a superhero—we need someone who listens and helps us succeed.” That conversation stuck with me. It reminded me that leadership isn’t about showing off what you know. It’s about showing up for others. Inside this book, you’ll find practical tools, real-world stories, and lessons learned the hard way—so you don’t have to repeat them. Leadership isn’t easy. But it’s one of the most meaningful, rewarding, and impactful responsibilities you’ll ever take on. Let’s get started—and put the leader into leadership.