03/17/2026
One of the most powerful leadership lessons I’ve learned about authentic leadership is this: empowerment isn’t something you say, it’s something you demonstrate.
Recently our Emergency Department held our 2nd Annual Cupcake Wars, and the results were incredible. In just 27 minutes, more than 2,000 cupcakes were sold all proceeds to support a local charity.
But the real story isn’t about the cupcakes.
Our Colleague Engagement Team is made up entirely of staff volunteers. No one is required to participate. When we first asked for members, only a small group stepped forward.
Instead of giving them a plan, we asked them one simple question:
“What is something we could do that would positively impact our community?”
That was the only direction.
From there, the team built everything themselves, the idea for Cupcake Wars, the rules of the competition, the charity receiving the proceeds, the marketing, even the poster design.
As leaders, we often say we empower people. But too often empowerment really means: Here’s the goal, and here’s how I want you to do it.
That isn’t empowerment.
Authentic leadership requires something harder…trust.
Trusting people with the freedom to think, create, and lead.
We didn’t give them the how.
We simply asked for the what and trusted them to discover their why.
The result was something none of us as individuals would have created on our own.
When people feel truly empowered, they don’t just complete tasks.
They create. They innovate. They take ownership.
And that’s where the real magic of leadership happens.
Sometimes the most powerful lessons in leadership come from simply stepping back and letting your team rise.
And sometimes… they come with cupcakes.
