Who Taught You to Lead?
Description: Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about creating the right conditions for a team to grow. Explore how to lead with confidence by learning and evolving along the way.
Reading time: 2 min
Think about it for a moment: when were you prepared to be a leader? Probably never. You went from focusing on your tasks to suddenly managing a team, facing expectations and challenges no one ever explained how to handle. In Developing and Leading Creative Teams, this reality is brought to light: leadership isn’t something we’re taught—it’s something we learn along the way.
But here’s the problem: leading by “figuring it out as you go” can be exhausting. Without clear guidance, many leaders fall into patterns that don’t work, like trying to have all the answers, avoiding conflict to maintain harmony, or micromanaging every detail to ensure everything goes right. These strategies not only create more pressure but also limit the potential of the team.
“Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about creating the conditions for your team to thrive.”
The truth is, leadership isn’t about having everything under control; it’s about creating the right conditions for your team to thrive. It’s about realizing that great leadership doesn’t come from perfection but from the ability to learn, adapt, and build together.
Accepting that no one taught you to lead isn’t a weakness—it’s the first step to doing it better. Because leadership isn’t a destination; it’s a journey of continuous learning. The question isn’t whether you’re fully prepared to lead but whether you’re willing to keep learning.
Quick Exercise:
Leadership is about learning from others. Try this quick research challenge:
Ask three people around you who their biggest leadership role model is and why.
Identify patterns: What qualities keep coming up? Is there anything that surprises you?
Reflect: What lessons from their answers could you apply to your own leadership?
This exercise will help you expand your perspective on what truly makes a great leader.
