Leadership Feels Heavier Than It Used To

Exploration of why leadership feels heavier for many leaders, and how deeper internal shifts are needed to navigate today’s complexity and pressure.

Leadership feels heavier than it used to.

I work with a lot of experienced leaders who are highly capable, thoughtful and committed. And yet many of them quietly describe leadership feeling heavier than it used to.

Not because they’ve suddenly become less competent. But because the context around leadership has changed significantly and many of the ways they learned to lead no longer fully fit the reality they are operating in.

So they push harder, react quickly, carry more.

Override their own signals and try to hold everything together.

Often while looking outwardly very successful because of the identity they present to the world.

I think one of the biggest leadership challenges right now is that many leaders are trying to solve something that requires a deeper internal shift and way of leading with more effort, strategy or productivity.

But sometimes the work is not about doing more.

It’s about understanding ourselves and our wisdom differently within the pressure and complexity we’re now leading through.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot as I’ve been developing and refining my Lead From Wisdom model and programme over the past year.

I’m curious what others are noticing. What parts of leadership feel most different to you now to few years ago?

Categories: : Leadership systems and relationships, Leadership under pressure, LeadFromWisdom, Self trust and awareness