When leaders say ‘that’s not possible,’ they often mean ‘I haven’t seen this before.’ This story explores how curiosity—not personal experience—creates space for innovation, trust, and better leadership.

I hate that I even have this story to tell. It’s been years, but as I type these words, I feel angry and disappointed that this moment ever occurred.

I was still a college coach, and one of our players had a lingering injury.

Our head athletic trainer came by the office and shared that he believed the only path to recovery would be for this student-athlete to go to the hospital, but at this point, she was refusing to do so. He asked if I would speak with her about this, which I was glad to do.

Leadership is about more than high expectations—it’s about setting your people up for success. In this post, discover how creating the right environment and culture can unlock growth and innovation within your team.