Even the best leaders hit a wall when their default style no longer gets results. Maybe your team stops responding, or stakeholders lose trust. The key isn’t to double down—it’s to adapt. Here’s how.
Scan for shifts in the business, stakeholders, and yourself. When your approach falters, ask what’s changed. Is the business evolving? Are stakeholders’ expectations changing? Are you under new personal pressures that affect how you lead? Stay alert to these signals so you can lead with clarity and credibility.
Challenge your comfort zone. If you’re overusing one style, it may be time to try another. Relying on what once worked can turn into a bottleneck. Build range by experimenting with styles better suited to new demands.
Be transparent about how you’re changing. Style shifts can confuse others. Let your team know what you’re doing and why. Framing the change as an effort to empower them builds trust and shows you’re growing, too.
Practice, seek feedback, and push through resistance. New styles take time. Expect pushback. Keep listening and adjusting—versatility improves with repetition.
Commit to developing versatility over mastery. Not every style will feel natural, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t to perfect one approach—it’s to build range. Choose how you lead based on what the moment requires, not just what feels authentic. |
