By: Myles W. Miller
“Real leadership is leaders recognizing that they serve the people that they lead.”
– Pete Hoekstra
One of the last conversations I had with my mother while she was still here on earth centered on accountability and leadership. The topic arose because a well-known pastor had experienced a very public and devastating fall from grace. The church he served was hurting. The broader community was shaken. Trust had been fractured.
I remember saying to my mother that I could not understand why people were being so harsh and judgmental. After all, I reasoned, he was still a man. Fallible. Human. No different from the rest of us.
She did not hesitate.
“No,” she said firmly. “The moment that man accepted the responsibility to lead, the moment he accepted the assignment to be set apart by God, he also accepted the role of being a role model. And if he fails, we are all affected.”
Her words stopped me.
In that instant, I realized she was not only talking about a pastor. She was talking about leadership itself.
Anyone who steps into a position of authority, visibility, or influence steps into a higher calling and a higher level of accountability. Leadership is not just about titles or platforms. It is about trust. It is about being a living example of what is possible and a visible testimony of what God can do through a willing and disciplined participant.
She wanted me to understand something deeply and permanently. Whether my path led me into ministry, business, politics, academia, or any arena where influence lives, I would be held to a different standard. Not because I was better than others, but because leadership demands more. That expectation is not unfair. It is the very hallmark of leadership.
That lesson has stayed with me.
And it is impossible not to think about it in light of the circumstances unfolding at my alma mater, the University of Michigan.
I will not sugarcoat my disappointment in Coach Moore. The deception, the lack of discipline, and the ripple effects of his actions have caused harm that is deep and, in many ways, irreversible. Opportunities like becoming the Head Football Coach at the University of Michigan do not come lightly. They carry enormous responsibility, not only to win games, but to shape lives.
Such a role carries social and cultural weight that extends far beyond football.
Young men and their families place immense trust in a leader like that, believing he will help develop them into strong, disciplined, honorable men, not just elite athletes. Staff members depend on that leader for stability, integrity, and the advancement of their careers. Families depend on that leadership for livelihoods, security, and direction.
When a leader falls, the impact does not stop at the individual.
Coach Moore’s fall affects his household, his players, his staff, the university, and the broader community that believed in him. It damages trust. It creates disillusionment. It forces people to question the systems and values they once assumed were solid.
This is the weight of leadership.
Leadership is not merely about opportunity. It is about stewardship. It is about understanding that every decision, every shortcut, and every compromise carries consequences far beyond oneself. Leaders do not get the luxury of separating their private actions from their public responsibilities. Influence erases that boundary.
My mother understood that.
And now, years later, I understand it more clearly than ever.
Leadership is a sacred trust. It is not something to be taken lightly, pursued casually, or maintained carelessly. It demands character when no one is watching, discipline when shortcuts are tempting, and humility when success arrives.
Because when leaders rise, many rise with them.
And when leaders fall, they never fall alone.
© 2025 Myles W. Miller and Lion Heart Enterprises
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Myles W. Miller is an accomplished author of countless articles and short stories on business success, motivation, empowerment, and writing. He conducts dynamic seminars and workshops and is available for speaking engagements and telephone coaching sessions. He can be contacted via e-mail at info@myleswmiller.com
Officially Myles!!! 