Hello everyone,

The word LEADERSHIP is everywhere. From courses to books, social media, and workshops, we are bombarded with guidance on what to do, how to behave, what to say or avoid.

I notice that with so much information available, many leaders end up getting lost in this sea of rules and advice, disconnecting from who they truly are in order to follow what “should be correct.”

What should be a journey of personal and professional growth often turns into a path of frustration, doubt, and oppression of one's true self.

The feeling that work does not generate the desired impact is common, as is the perception that it is undervalued, that the team is more a collection of individuals than a true TEAM.

And what about purpose? There is so much talk about "finding purpose" that it can leave one feeling empty, as if it is something unattainable or nebulous.

This saturation of information creates a scenario where, instead of connecting to the true meaning of leadership, we end up disconnecting from ourselves.

Work loses its significance, professional relationships become superficial, and the pressure to follow the "ideal model" of leadership generates frustration and dissatisfaction.

Leadership has become synonymous with targets, high performance, motivating and controlling the team, and the focus seems to be solely on results, results, results...

BREATHE...

In this edition, I invite you to pause and reflect with me: Does leadership really need to be so saturated?

Or is there a simpler and more authentic way to navigate this journey?

I won’t give you ready-made recipes, but I will encourage you to contemplate what MAKES SENSE FOR YOU.

I assure you that the journey of leadership can be simpler and more enjoyable than it seems. And if you are a leader who feels overwhelmed all the time, I invite you to read until the end.

If you are apprehensive or even hesitant to lead because everything seems burdensome, I also invite you to read until the end.

Enjoy the read! ;)

🔄 Unlearning to Relearn

To rediscover the true meaning of leadership, you must unlearn. Unlearn what you were taught, the formulas presented to you.

It’s about taking a pause and reviewing everything you have heard and read, separating what makes sense for YOU from what does not.

This journey of deconstruction is essential for those seeking more than just results, but also impact and fulfillment.

Leadership is an extension of who you are, your values, and what you believe success to be — not what others say.

The central question is: What kind of leader do you really want to be? What makes sense to you? This is an invitation to unlearn external expectations and rediscover leadership anchored in your authenticity.

As you navigate this path, you will learn to advocate for your choices, raise your flags, and live your values without fear of rejection.

Perhaps you will discover skills you still do not know and others you learned but that do not resonate with you. And that’s okay!

⚡ The Superpower of Being Yourself

Many leaders avoid showing who they really are out of fear of disapproval. But that fear is nonsense. Authenticity generates genuine connection with your team and creates a lasting impact.

Self-awareness is the key to this transformation. Only when you understand and accept who you are can you lead with confidence and inspire your team effectively.

Detach yourself from external expectations and reconnect with yourself.

Embrace your uniqueness and inspire your team to do the same. What is left behind in this process is what no longer fits in your journey and that you were forcing yourself to maintain.

Your superpower is being yourself, with all your skills and vulnerabilities. Having confidence in who you are will be the fundamental step to successful leadership.

🪞 An Invitation to Self-Awareness

Leading with authenticity requires the courage to question what we have been taught and the boldness to learn anew.

Unlearning does not mean forgetting but rather freeing yourself from ready-made formulas and creating your own narrative of success.

By accepting this challenge, you not only impact your team more assertively but also find greater meaning in what you do.

It’s no coincidence that in my individual leadership mentoring, I work with a methodology that, among the 5 steps, begins with: Who am I?

3 Things You Can Do to Reflect on What You Have Done

• Review Your Achievements and Challenges:

Reflect on your journey as a leader. What were the moments when you felt fulfilled? What did you do in those situations that aligned with your values? This helps identify what brought impact and satisfaction.

• Ask for Honest Feedback:

Talk to colleagues, mentors, or your team and ask for feedback on your actions and decisions. Knowing how your contributions are perceived can help you understand what is working and which behaviors reflect your true essence as a leader.

• Reflect on Your Most Authentic Decisions:

Remember moments when you made decisions based on your convictions, even if unpopular. These choices show what you believe is essential and how that manifests in your leadership.

🧠 Leadership Mindset

A mind in learning mode. This means recognizing that each leader's journey is unique, filled with ups and downs.

By allowing yourself to be vulnerable and opening up space for dialogue, you create an environment of trust and collaboration where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns.

Furthermore, true leadership is not based on having all the answers but on cultivating a culture of continuous learning (life long learning).

A leader who allows themselves to experiment, fail, and learn from those experiences builds a solid foundation, enabling their teams to experience this process too.

By adopting this mindset, the leader not only becomes more effective but also fosters the growth and development of their team, transforming it into a unique and valuable group.

It’s no coincidence that this mindset represents the second step of our leadership mentoring method, From Vision to Action, strengthening the direction each leader wants to follow in their uniqueness.

🖼️ Image of the Week:

Don't change who you are just to fit in.

📼 TEDTalks Every leader should watch

Unlearning Leadership | Karise Hutchinson | TEDxStormont

Karise explains why it is time to forget leadership stereotypes and debates and shift how we think and practice leadership.

💡 Quote of the week:

"Learning is not the absorption of facts, but the development of skills to make sense of what we live.”

— John Dewey

If you want my help to boost your leadership, click here and talk to me for individual mentoring.