In the high-stakes world of leadership, we are often taught that success is the result of strategy, grit, and "holding people accountable." But if you’ve ever led a team that seemed paralyzed by the fear of making a mistake, or a department where innovation has stalled despite high salaries, you aren’t facing a strategic problem—you’re perhaps facing an attachment problem.

Being a reliable partner is a beautiful thing. But a healthy, loving relationship requires two people to be messy, imperfect human beings who take turns holding the space for one another. You deserve to be in a relationship where you are loved for who you are, not for what you do.

If your relationships feel less like partnerships and more like projects, it's time to put down the toolbox and start working on the core beliefs that keep it there.