Leadership Moment: Decide to Become Like Robin

Become Robin: The Secret to Empowering Your Team

By Josh Smith | Start Leading People

I came across a quote recently that stopped me in my tracks:

“Decide to become like Robin in order to make all the people around you on your team feel like Batman.”

It hit me hard—in the best way.

Think about it. We all know Batman is the hero. The icon. The one who gets the spotlight. But the moment Robin joined him? That’s when the dynamic duo was born. That’s when Gotham got a power pair instead of a solo act.

What makes Robin so powerful isn’t his strength, speed, or skills. It’s his mindset. Robin never set out to be Batman—he just wanted to help Batman. He was willing to do the behind-the-scenes work, the humble stuff, the selfless support that made Batman’s mission unstoppable.

What if we took that same approach as leaders?

What if we saw our role not as the star of the show—but as the one who empowers others to shine?

Imagine a team where every member knows they’ve got superpowers—because you helped them discover it. Imagine being the kind of leader who walks alongside people, cheers them on, lifts them up, and celebrates their success louder than your own.

That’s what great leadership looks like.

So here’s my challenge to you: Decide to be Robin today. Be the ultimate sidekick. Be the one who makes everyone around you feel like Batman.

Because when you lead like that, everybody wins.