Way back when, I read Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader by Herminia Ibarra. Your article has similar core frameworks of act-before-you-think, network diversification, authenticity challenges, and self-assessment.
Oh nice! I was vaguely aware of the book from my MBA but haven’t actually read it… probably my education was strongly influenced by it! I’ll have a look 😀
This is true, as you get more senior, your main job becomes building talent and managing relationships with clients. You can't do everything yourself, you will be a bottle neck.
Effective leadership is empowering (unblocking) & getting out of the way of future talent, while providing a cushion if things go wrong.
Love the personal angles to the article! Makes the stories more powerful & definitely helps land the messages!
Leadership often looks like action, but what actually matters is how the system moves around you.
Holding space for others to think isn’t passive—it shifts where energy flows and who carries what. Reducing friction isn’t flashy, but it lets momentum emerge naturally. And your own reactions ripple through the team more than any plan or process ever could.
Real leadership isn’t about being impressive. It’s about how the environment behaves when you step back. That’s where the lasting impact lives.
Way back when, I read Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader by Herminia Ibarra. Your article has similar core frameworks of act-before-you-think, network diversification, authenticity challenges, and self-assessment.
Oh nice! I was vaguely aware of the book from my MBA but haven’t actually read it… probably my education was strongly influenced by it! I’ll have a look 😀
It's about 12 years old now. Much of it is still applicable today.
This is true, as you get more senior, your main job becomes building talent and managing relationships with clients. You can't do everything yourself, you will be a bottle neck.
Effective leadership is empowering (unblocking) & getting out of the way of future talent, while providing a cushion if things go wrong.
Love the personal angles to the article! Makes the stories more powerful & definitely helps land the messages!
Thanks, Victoria! There’s three more of these following the same template, I look forward to seeing them published 👏🏼
definitely! can't wait!!
Leadership often looks like action, but what actually matters is how the system moves around you.
Holding space for others to think isn’t passive—it shifts where energy flows and who carries what. Reducing friction isn’t flashy, but it lets momentum emerge naturally. And your own reactions ripple through the team more than any plan or process ever could.
Real leadership isn’t about being impressive. It’s about how the environment behaves when you step back. That’s where the lasting impact lives.