Holding the Mic: A Little Perspective Goes a Long Way

I once watched a scene between a fitness instructor and a frustrated participant. The member was visibly annoyed — questioning every move, every cue. Without saying a word, the instructor took off their mic, handed it to the member, and said, “Here! You teach.”

The participant’s eyes went wide. They quickly handed it back.

How easy it is for our opinions or passions to get the better of us. A good dose of perspective can go a long way.

Recently — and shamelessly — I found myself in a conversation about a director. Somewhere in the mix of thoughts and honesty, my opinions came out more bluntly than they should have. I walked away from that conversation feeling uneasy, and I knew why.

Because I’ve never directed a show.

I’ve never managed the moving parts, the cast, the crew, the tech, the budget, the calendar, the late nights, and the responsibility of holding an entire vision together.

And the truth is — it’s easy to have opinions when you’re not the one holding the mic.

That realization humbled me.

It reminded me how quick we can be to comment from the sidelines, forgetting that leadership always looks simpler from the audience.

We don’t see the private decisions, the problem-solving, the sleepless nights, or the emotional load of making it all work. We don’t feel the pressure of being the one who has to decide — not just dream.

So this is my personal call to repentance.

I should have never shared such blunt opinions without first honoring the fact that someone was doing their best — showing up, giving what they had, and carrying a role most people wouldn’t dare step into.

Not everything runs perfectly. Leadership never will. But we can choose to extend grace — especially when we don’t have their point of view.

Because at the end of the day, they’re the ones holding the mic. And we get to be partakers of the work they’re doing.

So next time we’re tempted to criticize, maybe we pause. Maybe we listen. Maybe we recognize the weight someone else is carrying and say, “Hey — I see you.”

A little perspective goes a long way.

✅ To every director, educator, or leader out there — thank you for holding the mic, even when it’s heavy. We see you.