Becoming a manager or leader is a significant milestone in a career, but it is not the right step for everyone. The specialist role is just as important, offering great opportunities for success and advancement by deepening and broadening one’s expertise.

Here, I share my thoughts on leadership – what it truly means, why it takes more than a title, and how you can reflect on your own leadership style.

What Does Leadership Really Mean?

Many people become managers without formal leadership training or experience. Sometimes, it is a reward for successfully completing a project or for long and loyal service – or simply a way to retain a valuable employee. However, being a skilled specialist does not automatically make one a great leader – or even someone willing to support and develop their team.

Leadership is about creating the conditions for others to succeed. A great leader understands that their role is not to have all the answers but to enable success through their employees, surround themselves with experts, and dedicate time to leadership.

A leader I once coached expressed their frustration: “Oh, these people! I can’t focus on my own work because they keep coming in with all their problems!” I asked two simple but thought-provoking questions: “What is your job?” and “What excites you about your work?”  These questions helped us explore the root of their frustration together.

Key Questions for Reflection:

• How do I perceive my role as a leader – enabler, controller, or know-it-all?
• How do I handle the fact that I don’t always have the right answers?
• How do I contribute to creating a culture of trust where employees feel empowered to take initiative and responsibility?
• How do I see my employees – as time-wasters, valuable team players, or obstacles?
• Do I give my employees room to grow, or do I risk limiting them by micromanaging?
• How clear am I in my communication – in terms of information, expectations, and feedback?
• When and how do I reflect on my leadership? Do I actively seek support and feedback?

Leadership Is Constantly Evolving

Employee expectations of leadership are continuously changing. A modern leader must clearly define what leadership means within the organization:

• What are the manager’s responsibilities?
• What do employee engagement and self-leadership mean?
• How do we create a culture of shared ownership and commitment?

In Reinventing Organizations, Frederic Laloux describes how organizations are shifting from hierarchical structures to self-managed teams where everyone contributes to a shared vision and common goals.

Successful leaders inspire, build trust, clarify objectives, and foster an inclusive work environment.
This does not exclude the need for clear guidelines, processes, and policies – on the contrary, these elements provide structure, fairness, and transparency.

Leadership in Practice – What Does It Look Like in Our Organization?

• Do we have a clearly defined and shared view of leadership?
• Are our vision and values integrated into our daily work?
• Do we treat our employees as whole individuals – both professionally and personally?
• Do I, as a leader, dare to show vulnerability, admit mistakes, and ask for help?
• How do we support one another in leadership development?
• Do we encourage innovation? How do we perceive mistakes – as learning opportunities or failures?
• How do we ensure that leadership continuously evolves and adapts to new challenges?

Leadership Is About Relationships

Mother Teresa once asked two powerful questions at a leadership forum:

1. “Do you know your employees?”
2. “Do you love them?”

Truly knowing your employees is not just about understanding their job roles. It means recognizing their motivations, challenges, and potential – and actively creating opportunities for them to grow and leverage their strengths.

In our coaching engagements within organizations, we use the SDI 2.0 communication tool to create a comprehensive picture of the individuals that form the team. The better we understand ourselves and our employees, the faster and more effectively we can respond and act in different situations.

Great leadership is about creating the conditions for people to thrive, grow, and perform – together.

Would You Like Us to Be Your Leadership Development Partner?

We are passionate about coaching leaders towards clear goals, exploring the current state, challenging ingrained “truths,” and driving meaningful progress. This requires trust, commitment, and courage.

Our approach combines team coaching and individual coaching, where we define both team and personal goals – and take concrete steps to achieve them.

This is not just another lecture; it is an interactive and hands-on process where you and your organization actively engage in real, transformative work.

Do you want to grow as a leader or establish a unified leadership culture within your organization?
Don’t wait – contact us, and we will design a model that fits your unique needs!

Why Wait? Reach Out Today!

“The best time to start was yesterday; the next best time is today.”

Our Offerings Include:

• Executive Coaching (1:1) – for you and your leadership and management team
• Leadership Training – for you and your entire organization
• “Have a Nice Conflict” – 2,5 day Course – because conflicts are inevitable and impact time, resources, and well-being

SDI 2.0 – A Strong Foundation for Individual and Team Development

We utilize SDI 2.0, a proven tool for individual coaching, team building, and leadership development.

Our starting point is always to help the group explore:

• Who are we as a group?
• What are our strengths?
• How do we manage conflicts and other challenges together?
• Where do we want to go? Is everyone on board?

Once we establish this foundation, we take actionable steps forward!

SDI – Strength Deployment Inventory, based on research by Dr. Elias Porter and Dr. Tim Scudder
RQ – Results Through Effective Relationships

 Let’s Build Strong and Sustainable Leadership Together!

Are you ready to take on the challenge? We are!

If you dare and are willing – take the first step toward success.
Contact us today!