What they wish they did more of, sooner, and louder.

1. “I Wish We’d Stopped Waiting for ‘Ready’”

— And Started Developing Potential Early.**

Too many HR teams wait until someone’s a ‘perfect fit’ before giving them leadership development. Newsflash: There is no perfect fit. Leadership isn’t about readiness — it’s about willingness. By the time you’ve greenlit them, they’ve already left for a place that believes in them sooner.

🧠 Regret = We lost future stars by not betting on them when it counted most.

2. “We Focused Too Much on Titles — Not Enough on Mindsets.”

Just because someone got promoted doesn’t mean they know how to lead. And some of your best leaders? Don’t have a title at all. HR regrets not investing in mindset, EQ, and courage — because leading isn’t a role, it’s a way of being.

🔥 Real regret? Promoting managers and skipping the leadership part.

3. “We Waited for the Business Case Instead of Leading the Human Case.”

Yes, metrics matter. But too many HR teams delay leadership initiatives waiting for ROI data or budget approvals. While they waited? Culture slipped. Burnout soared. Great people walked. Now they know: the cost of not developing leaders is far higher.

💸 Regret = Being reactive, not proactive — and paying for it in attrition.

4. “We Didn’t Equip Leaders for the Tough Stuff.”

We trained them in performance reviews and compliance… But forgot the real stuff — how to navigate conflict, lead through change, have courageous conversations, and build emotionally safe teams. Now they’re scrambling — because we gave them processes, not people skills.

💥 Regret = We trained managers. We should’ve built leaders.

5. “We Didn’t Go Hard Enough on Inclusion, Women, and Emerging Leaders.”

We tiptoed. We ticked boxes. But we didn’t push hard enough for diverse voices in the room. We didn’t shout loud enough when women were passed over. We didn’t spotlight the emerging talent crying out for a chance. Now we’re rebuilding trust and equity — but wishing we’d done it a decade ago.

⚡ Regret = Playing it safe in a space that desperately needed courage.

The Truth? HR Has the Power to Build the Future of Leadership — or Miss the Moment.

If you’re in HR or L&D — don’t let these regrets be yours. Start now. Push harder. Be bolder. Because the future doesn’t belong to cautious HR. It belongs to courageous HR.

Want help? That’s what we do. Let’s build bold, brilliant leaders — together.

👉 leadershiphq.com.au | Leadership Programs | Coaching | Culture Change