In my nine-year career at Southwest, I have been fortunate to be supported and led by individuals who modeled integrity and did so with resolute consistency. That kind of leadership not only instills trust but teaches you how to lead others with that same commitment, which is crucial for navigating work that presents challenges that may not always have a clear or obvious solution.

Healthy teams are built through leadership behaviors that create both trust and healthy conflict. These elements may seem to work against each other; however, they must coexist. The strongest teams are those where individuals feel safe to speak up, challenge ideas, and admit mistakes. They also hold themselves and one another to a high standard of performance and ownership.

Like it or not, all teams are potentially dysfunctional. From the basketball court to the executive suite, politics and confusion are more the rule than the exception. Why? Because teams are made of imperfect, fallible human beings. At the same time, and in beautiful irony, being exceedingly human is also why teams succeed.

A former and quite successful client best expressed the power of teamwork when he once told me, “If you could get all the people in the organization rowing in the same direction, you could dominate any industry, in any market, against any competition, at any time.” When I repeat this to leaders, they immediately nod their heads but in a desperate sort of way. They grasp the truth while simultaneously surrendering to the perceived impossibility of it. Fortunately, there is hope!

As we focus this first quarter on Healthy Leaders, I’m reminded that one of the most important—and often overlooked—indicators of a Healthy Leader is humility. Not the kind that downplays confidence or conviction but one that keeps a Leader grounded, open and genuinely connected to the People they serve. Healthy Leaders understand that Leadership isn’t about position or recognition. It’s about service, trust and putting others first.

Which turns my thoughts immediately to Colleen Barrett. Colleen led with a quiet strength rooted in humility. She never needed the spotlight, yet her influence was undeniable. She showed us what it looked like to lead with heart—listening first, serving Employees and staying true to the values that make Southwest special. Her example continues to shape how many of us think about Leadership today.