leadership doesn’t always mean taking the most visible seat at the table. Often it means creating space for others to lead, contribute, and challenge you. And that’s only possible if you’re willing to listen first.
I’ve come to realize this in my own work as a leader. I know what I know. But I don’t know what you know, and it’s only when I listen that I can see the full picture. The best decisions, the ones that hold up under pressure, come not from my perspective alone but from the collective wisdom of the team. If I want to improve, if I want to make better choices, I have to create the space for your knowledge to meet mine.
Too often, leaders fall into the trap of believing their value comes from always having the answers. They confuse constant talking with clarity, or assume silence will be read as weakness. The irony is that in trying to project confidence through words, they inadvertently shut down the very voices they most need to hear.