Leadership After 30 Years – What I No Longer Believe
When I started this journey, leadership meant knowing more than others, having a plan, and making decisions fast.
Thirty years later, I lead differently — and with far more intent.
This isn’t a list of “tips.” It’s a reflection on unlearning, rebuilding, and learning again.
1. From Control to Context
I used to chase control: of deadlines, specs, scope.
Now, I seek context. Understanding why things matter, and what’s not being said.
Because people don’t resist tasks — they resist unclear purposes and unspoken fears.
2. From Being Right to Being Clear
Early on, I was proud of “having the answer.”
Now, I value asking better questions.
- “Where might this break?”
- “What are we not seeing?”
- “Who needs to hear this, but hasn’t?”
Clarity builds trust. And trust scales teams.
3. From Hero Mode to Shared Ownership
For too long, I wore the hero cape. Fixed late-night bugs, stayed in the loop, always “on.”
It burned me — and held others back.
Now, I create containers for growth — systems where others can shine, fail safely, and iterate faster than I ever could alone.
4. From Urgency to Sustainability
Yes, we deliver. But sustainable delivery beats adrenaline-fueled velocity.
Whether it’s a platform migration or a re-org, I lead with questions like:
- “Will this still make sense 6 months from now?”
- “What debt are we creating today?”
- “How are we documenting this for those not in the room?”
5. From Proving to Learning
The best leaders I know are learning in public.
They don’t posture. They listen more than they speak. And they’re brave enough to say, “I was wrong.”
I’ve had to do that. More than once. It’s humbling — and it’s leadership.
The Long View
After 30 years, I no longer believe in perfect plans. I believe in clarity, consistency, and care.
Leadership isn’t loud. It’s the quiet discipline of showing up, again and again, with curiosity, intention, and the willingness to get better — not just faster.
If you're leading through uncertainty, start with this:
👉 Make space. Ask more. Control less.
And above all, don’t lead alone.