We love to talk about leadership as a journey. We talk about milestones, destinations and the path we’re walking. Some call it “the process.” Others insist it’s all about “the destination.” But here’s the thing: leadership is not about the road at all. It’s about the person walking it.
Think about it. Two people can go through the same programme, face the same challenges and follow the same steps but come out completely different. What made the difference? Not the process. Not the finish line. It’s the way they grew, the values they lived and the kind of person they became while living the experience.
Leadership is deeply personal. It’s forged in the moments no one claps for: the way you handle criticism, the patience you show when others lose theirs, the humility you choose when ego would be easier. These are not items on a checklist or milestones on a map. They are shifts inside you. And they shape the leader you are becoming.
The paradox is that leadership development often disguises itself as “skills” and “processes.” And yes, you can learn models, attend workshops and refine competencies. You can memorise theories and practice case studies. Those things are useful, but they are not the essence. Because if all of that doesn’t touch who you are at your core, then it’s decoration. The real question is not “What steps did you follow?” or “What title did you reach?” but “Who did you become in the process?”
This shift in perspective matters because too often we confuse leadership with outcomes. We celebrate promotions, awards and recognition as proof that someone is a leader. But those are external. They can be taken away, or they may never come. What remains is the internal compass, the part of you that defines how you act when no one is watching.
When we start seeing leadership this way, it stops being a race towards external success. It becomes an inner practice of becoming. It’s not about getting to the summit. It’s about becoming the kind of climber who can face storms, setbacks, and still keep moving with clarity and courage. That is the real test of leadership. Not the applause at the top, but the resilience and integrity in the climb.
And here’s something else worth noticing: the becoming never really ends. There is no final arrival point where you can say, “I’ve mastered leadership.” Every new challenge, every unexpected turn, every failure or success adds another layer to who you are. The question is whether you allow those moments to harden you or refine you.
So maybe we need to stop glorifying the journey or the destination. Instead, let’s ask harder, deeper questions: Am I becoming more authentic? More grounded? More human in the way I lead? Am I able to carry responsibility without arrogance, authority without losing empathy and vision without neglecting the people who help bring it alive?
Because at the end of the day, titles fade. Processes change. Destinations move. But the leader you become, that stays with you. That’s the legacy you carry, whether or not the world gives you a certificate for it.
And if there’s one truth every leader eventually realises, it’s this: people will forget the steps you followed, they’ll forget the goals you hit, but they’ll never forget who you were while you were leading. That is the heart of leadership. Not the process. Not the destination. It’s you.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
