If you are a leader, part of your job is inspiring other people to be leaders as well. You can measure the success of a leader by how many people they’ve helped move into leadership themselves – or how few.
Some leaders work themselves half to death in order to spare their teams the slightest bit of discomfort. They stress until midnight, burning the candle at both ends. They think they’re helping their people by shielding them, but the reality is that their growth is hindered. So is yours, if you do this. If your team looks at you and thinks that your job (or life!) is miserable, then none of them will want the mantle of leadership, and you’ll be stuck where you are forever.
This means yes, you should brag a little. You should enjoy the perks a little. You shouldn’t take advantage and you shouldn’t make it all about status or personal benefits, but use your parking space! Delegate and take a vacation! Stand up and take a bow when it’s appropriate!
You want your people to look at you and say, “That will be me someday.” You want to do good work, help your people, and be an inspiration. If you’re overworked and miserable, then you aren’t one.
The Opportunity Machine 