National Leadership Day | How to be a leader? Answered by Kicksite Leaders

National Leadership Day | How to be a leader? Answered by Kicksite Leaders

Leadership. It takes shape in many ways, forms, and styles. It’s a journey and evolution that changes you for the better. Whether you’re an experienced leader or starting to take that leap, CEO Jason Neef and the Kicksite Leadership Team have a few words of wisdom for you. From consistency to integrity, check out what our team values the most in a leader below!

Q: If you only had to pick one, what trait is the most important in a leader?

Jason, CEO || Consistency.

Ryan, CTO || If I had to pick just one trait, I’d say empathy is the most important in a leader. It forms the foundation for understanding and connecting with others, which helps build trust, respect, and strong relationships within a team. When leaders show empathy, they can better support their team members, understand their challenges, and create an environment where people feel heard and valued. This can drive motivation, engagement, and a sense of shared purpose, which ultimately contributes to the success of the team and the organization.

Pat, Marketing Team Supervisor || Adaptability. Nobody learns, grows, or works in the exact same way, so be a chameleon in how you communicate, guide and teach!

Chris, Sales Team Lead || I think the biggest trait to have as a leader is patience. Letting your co-workers develop with the tools that they are provided helps a team to focus without panic.

Cody, Customer Success and Support Team Lead || Empathy. To be useful in my position it’s important to me that I always try to understand the experiences of my team and our clients.  I can’t lead and provide a good experience if I don’t understand the needs of the employees and clients around me that allow me to be here.

Travis, Website Team Lead || The ability to recognize where your staff needs more help, where they are excelling, and when they need to be pushed to achieve more.

Mike, Associate Sales Team Lead || Integrity is most important to me as a leader. Leadership requires trust and principles. If you can compromise your principles; then you aren’t leading, you’re following someone else’s.

Devin, Associate Support Team Lead || Integrity.

Alison, Associate Success Team Lead || I think Creativity and Empathy are most important in a Leader.  You need to be able to think outside of the box and listen to ideas that may initially seem a bit out there!  I think it is also super important to understand everyone you work with has their own lives and experience that affect their day-to-day.

Q: What advice do you have for other leaders or those growing into leadership?

Jason, CEO || Stop chasing the big idea, the overnight success, the get-rich-quick gimmicks. Instead, focus and commit to getting a little bit better every single day on the important objectives that bring value to your customers. Once you become a leader, coach your people to do the same. Success comes from patience, discipline and execution.

Ryan, CTO || As well as building strong connections with your team, I think it’s important to lead by example and commit to continuous learning. As a leader, your actions set the tone for the entire team, so it’s important to model the behaviors, work ethic, and attitude you want to see in others. At the same time, recognize that leadership is a journey of growth. Embrace learning opportunities—whether it’s through feedback, new experiences, or even mistakes —and use them to evolve as a leader. How you handle challenges and setbacks will show your team that growth is not about being perfect, but about adapting and persevering.

Pat, Marketing Team Supervisor || Becoming a leader isn’t an endpoint, it’s an evolution. Keep yourself open to continuous growth, change, and learning, including from the individuals you lead.

Chris, Sales Team Lead || It takes time for some to develop more than others. Be patient and provide guidance during tough times.

Cody, Customer Success and Support Team Lead || Have standards, constantly challenge those standards internally, and have hard conversations.  The hardest things about leading for me is finding the balance between rigid expectation and being too flexible.  My team expects me to provide them the roadmap of how to grow and excel.  If I’m too lackadaisical they have nothing to professionally orient themselves with.  If I’m too rigid I can stifle creativity and engagement, and the consequences if I’m wrong can erode trust and confidence people have in me.  Once you have those standards it allows you to have difficult conversations where growth can occur.  I can show someone how to improve.  How the team can improve.  I can be wrong and grow, myself.  If I can’t engage in a deep and meaningful way, even if it’s uncomfortable, we can’t expect to succeed.

Travis, Website Team Lead || Be aware of current processes and always be willing to change them. Find the root of any issues and start with adjusting that. Always look for ways to improve yourself and your team.

Mike, Associate Sales Team Lead || Advice for growing into leadership? My best advice is to recognize that leadership is an activity, not a title. Sometimes the most powerful leadership is demonstrated without having been hired or tasked with the direct responsibility.

Devin, Associate Support Team Lead || The willingness to learn and adapt. To lead by example.

Alison, Associate Success Team Lead || Active listening and effective communication skills are key!