Lessons from a Statue - Leading with Respect, Collaboration, and Perspective

Lessons from a Statue - Leading with Respect, Collaboration, and Perspective

There’s a small statue standing in my staircase. As you can see in the picture above, two figures, one taller, one shorter, hold a ball above their heads, together. Every day, as I move up and down, I catch sight of it. Behind them, a stained-glass window pours soft, shifting light across them, casting new angles, new shades, new reflections.

This statue isn’t just decoration. It’s a legacy. I inherited it when my mother passed away 2.5 years ago, and since then, it has become much more than a physical object, it’s a daily reminder of values that matter.

I grew up with respect, consideration, and harmony thanks to my parents’ deeply thoughtful and balanced education. It wasn’t about rules, it was about instilling something deeper: a foundation of kindness, responsibility, and integrity, shaping not just who I became, but how I move through the world. These values are not just personal, they are systemic, influencing families, teams, and organizations alike.

The statue speaks of collaboration. Of lifting projects, ideas, and responsibilities, not alone, but together. A child and a parent, a mentor and a mentee, a leader and their team. It shows how important it is to guide, to support, to inspire from a young age.

It speaks of perspective. The light from the stained-glass window changes throughout the day, just as perspectives shift when different minds contribute. Every angle offers new insight, new understanding. Isn’t that what great leadership is about, inviting others to see, to challenge, to refine an idea until it shines?

It speaks of responsibility. In a world where complexity can overwhelm, the simplicity of two figures holding something up together reminds us, leadership is not a solo act. Success is not just about individual talent. The strongest ideas, the most lasting impacts, come from people working side by side, ‘lifting the ball together’.

And in today’s world, respect often feels absent, though it remains a cornerstone for meaningful collaboration and change. Leadership isn’t just about authority, it’s about fostering trust, mutual understanding, and shared purpose.

Maybe, more than anything, this statue reminds me to reflect on my own journey as a parent. Did I live up to those values when raising a family? Did I instill in my own children the same foundation my parents gave me? I hope so. And every time I see this little statue, I feel gratitude for what I was given, and responsibility for the legacy I hope to pass on.

In business, leadership, and life, this statue holds a lesson that many of us could do well to reflect on. Not just once, but daily, as light shifts and new perspectives emerge.