I’ve been leading teams for over a decade, and I’ve made plenty of mistakes. Not theoretical ones. Real ones. The kind that stick with you and quietly reshape how you lead moving forward.
Early on, I thought leadership was about delegating tasks, being decisive, and staying highly directive. Get the job done. Move fast. Stay in control.
Over time, I learned that approach only works in limited situations. What actually creates sustainable momentum is situational leadership. Knowing when to direct, when to coach, when to support, and when to get out of the way. I’ll unpack more of that in future posts.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned recently is the power of presence. Not just physical presence, but mental and emotional presence. When a leader is distracted, disengaged, or half-in, teams feel it immediately. Trust erodes quietly. Unity weakens. Energy drops.
There were seasons in my career where I thought my role was to let the team be the presence while I stayed behind the scenes. What I’ve learned firsthand is that teams respond differently when a leader is fully in it with them. Engaged. Available. Paying attention.
Effective leadership isn’t loud. It’s present. And presence builds trust faster than any title ever will.