Who Actually Shaped My Leadership Style
Leadership isn’t about having one style. It’s about knowing which version of yourself the business needs right now.
Who Actually Shaped My Leadership Style
Lesson: Leadership Isn’t Static, It’s Situational
People often ask who influenced my leadership style the most. The honest answer is that leadership has changed with every stage of every business I’ve been in. I’ve studied situational leadership, readiness levels, and development frameworks, but the real lessons came from context switching. Leading an early-stage business requires something very different than leading teams with seasoned executives. Learning when and how to shift has been one of the hardest parts of my growth.
Insight: The Business Stage Dictates the Leader Required
- Early Stage Needs Direction: In infancy, teams need clarity, speed, and hands-on leadership. Vision and decisiveness matter more than consensus.
- Scale Requires Trust and Delegation: As businesses mature, leadership shifts toward coaching, alignment, and letting experienced leaders run their lanes.
- Context Switching Is a Skill: Moving between different leadership modes across a portfolio is difficult. What works in one company can break another if applied blindly.
Leadership isn’t about having one style. It’s about knowing which version of yourself the business needs right now.
Action Item: Match Your Leadership to the Stage
- Identify the Stage of Each Team - Early, growth, or mature. Be honest about where they really are.
- Name the Leadership Style Required - Directive, supportive, or hands-off. Choose intentionally.
- Adjust Before Problems Show Up - Most leadership failures come from using the right style at the wrong time.
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