Leadership in the Waiting Room

Leadership in the Waiting Room -- We spend more time waiting than we realize.

The waiting room. The delivery room. The operating room. The boardroom. The classroom.

In leadership, the “waiting rooms” are seasons of transition, uncertainty, or delay. They’re frustrating, but they’re also formative.

When I went through my own leadership transition, I discovered that the waiting room wasn’t wasted time. It was preparation. It forced reflection, recalibration, and deeper clarity on what mattered most.

Waiting seasons teach us:
✅ Patience → Growth takes time.
✅ Perspective → Stepping back reveals new insights.
✅ Resilience → Learning to endure strengthens future execution.

Three Ways to Lead in the Waiting Room:
1️⃣ Shift from “Why is this happening?” to “What am I learning?”
2️⃣ Use the pause to invest in relationships and reflection.
3️⃣ Prepare! Because waiting seasons always give way to action.

The waiting room isn’t wasted. It’s where leaders are refined for what’s next.