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Written by Travis Mayfield, filling in this week for Dave Ross on Seattle’s Morning News

Everyone wants followers these days. From TikTok to Instagram, podcasts to Patreon, faiths to philosophies. But what if instead of following, we focused on leading?

I was struck this week by a leader on the dry side of our state. Melissa Luck – news director at – leads a combined TV, radio, and digital newsroom. And you know what she just did? She gave her journalists time off, doing their jobs for them in the interim, and even anchoring the news by herself.

I’ve been thinking about what Melissa did because today is Giving Tuesday. I can show you my inbox with the dozens upon dozens of requests for money. And I will give – money – to several charitable groups we are proud to support. But what if we also focused on giving more every day? What if beyond money we gave more love, wisdom, and leadership too?

Melissa does. I know she does, because I’ve watched her do it for over 20 years.

Now, before you say “any boss can give time off,” do you know what days she gave to her team? Thanksgiving and the day after.

When asked, Melissa simply said the newsroom motto is “take care of the team” and that is leadership we can all gratefully follow.

Listen to Seattle’s Morning News weekday mornings from 5 – 9 a.m. on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.