Aligned Leadership

by Derrick Kunsman

It started with a sting.

My son had been throwing harder. And, lately, when we’d head outside to toss the baseball, it was less relaxing and more, well, painful. I kept catching his throws off-center, and each one sent a small zap through my hand. After a few tosses, I wondered: Maybe it’s time for a new glove.

I’ve had this glove for years. It wasn’t flashy or new. It had character: creased leather, weathered laces, and just enough wear to tell stories. It had been gifted to me by my father-in-law, John, who, when asked about its provenance, replied with a grin, “Not an error left in it. Used way back in 1980 when I was playing fast pitch in Madison (Wisconsin) for Jack’s Shoes.”

That glove had miles. But now it was stinging. So, I reached out to my friend Jeff at Gray Hair’s Glove Repair (yes, that’s really the name, highly recommend). He replaced the laces and gave it new life. But even after the refresh, the sting remained.

Jeff gave me a simple suggestion: “Try catching it more in the webbing. Establish the pocket. Where you catch the ball can have an impact.”

I didn’t need a new glove. I just needed a small adjustment. The glove stayed. The sting faded. My joy in playing catch returned.

So What Does Any of This Have to Do with Leadership? 

A lot, actually.

In schools, businesses, nonprofits, you name it, we’re often so quick to throw out the old playbook and chase the next shiny thing. A new curriculum. A new system. A new initiative. A new “solution.” But, too often we don’t give things the time they need to work. Or, the consistency they require to improve.

Stephen Covey called it “Sharpening the Saw.” The idea that we can’t just keep hacking at trees (or problems) without pausing to refine our tools: ourselves, our systems, and our strategies.

The best leaders I know – those who build culture, grow people, and make an impact – aren’t constantly chasing novelty. They’re disciplined, they’re strategic, and they’re aligned. They focus on the few things that matter most, and they stick with them. They make adjustments where needed, but they don’t abandon what’s working just because it’s not flashy.

Maybe what you’re building right now doesn’t need to be replaced. Maybe it just needs… a new lace. A better pocket. A small adjustment. And, a little more time.

What Are You Catching Lately? 

What’s stinging in your leadership right now? Is it time for something new, or are you simply catching things off-center?

That glove from 1980 still works. And, so do a lot of the ideas, systems, and values we’ve held onto, if we’re willing to refine them, rather than replace them.

What can you double down on? What small shift might change your whole experience?

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

This space, Aligned Leadership, isn’t about having the answers. It’s a place where I’m sharing reflections from my own journey, most of which started in the margins of my journal. If they spark thought or connection for you, I’d love to hear it.

We’re all still learning.

Let’s keep growing: on purpose, and in alignment.

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Aligned Leadership | Lead With Purpose. Live With Alignment.