Great leaders get remembered. Not because of their titles, wealth, or power, but because of the way they lead, the actions they take, and the impact they leave behind.
Great leaders don’t just disrupt or manage, they create and inspire.
They make decisions that shape lives, challenge the status quo, create lasting change and transform. Their influence extends beyond their time in a role, living on in the people they’ve mentored, the movements they’ve sparked, and the cultures they’ve transformed.
We live in a world obsessed with measurement, tracking progress, defining success, and proving impact. The question I often hear, almost relentlessly, is: How do you measure impact? When I think about this, I’m reminded of Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, who continues to shape the world in meaningful ways.
She once said:
"Politics has never been a tick-list for me. It’s always been about progress. Sometimes you can measure it, and sometimes you can’t. There will be no list of the lives saved because of the banning of military-style semi-automatic weapons."
So, how do you lead in a way that truly lasts? How do you become a leader whose impact lives on?
Leadership today isn’t just about making strategic decisions or driving performance. It’s about navigating relentless complexity, leading through uncertainty, and staying resilient in the face of constant demands.
And yet, most leadership advice tells you to work harder, develop your weaknesses, and adopt traits that don’t come naturally to you.
That’s not sustainable. And it’s not how great leadership works.
If you feel like you’re constantly trying to be a leader you’re not, or that leadership is draining more than it’s giving, you’re not alone. There’s a better way.
Why We Focus on Weaknesses (And Why It’s a Trap)
Too often, leadership development focuses on fixing what’s “wrong” with you, your weaknesses, your gaps, the things you need to improve. But research shows this approach doesn’t create lasting change. It leads to frustration, burnout, and leaders who feel like they’re never quite enough.
We are wired to focus on what’s not working. The media thrives on problems. The majority of global education systems emphasize fixing weaknesses rather than amplifying strengths.
Emotional intelligence and self-awareness are often overlooked in favor of performance metrics and standardized expectations. We chase the myth of the “well-rounded” Renaissance leader, someone who excels in every area, but this is not only unrealistic, it’s exhausting.
Neuroscience tells us that while our brains are adaptable, the greatest growth happens when we invest in areas of natural talent. Trying to overcome our greatest weaknesses leads to only incremental improvement, whereas honing our strengths leads to exponential growth.
And yet, most performance systems, schools, and workplaces push us toward fixing deficits rather than amplifying our unique capabilities. Medicine and psychology do the same, we obsess over diagnosing what’s broken rather than reinforcing what’s strong.
Great leadership doesn’t start with fixing weaknesses. It starts with awareness, of yourself, your strengths, and your role. When you lead from your strengths, everything shifts. You stop battling yourself, and you start leading with more ease, impact, and confidence.
True excellence comes from leveraging what we naturally do best, not trying to be everything to everyone.
The Seven Behaviors of Great Leaders
After decades of research, Gallup identified seven core leadership behaviors that drive real impact. The key? Mastering these behaviors in a way that aligns with your natural strengths.
Here’s what they are:
1. Build Relationships
Leadership is about people. Exceptional leaders form genuine connections, build trust, and create environments where people feel valued. Strong relationships drive engagement, innovation, and resilience.
2. Develop People
Great leaders don’t just manage, they mentor. They create cultures of growth, investing in their teams and ensuring that development is an ongoing process, not an afterthought.
3. Lead Change
Change isn’t just inevitable, it’s constant. Leaders who succeed don’t just react; they proactively shape the future. They inspire their teams with a clear vision and support them in navigating transformation.
4. Inspire Others
People need meaning in their work. Great leaders communicate purpose, celebrate progress, and help their teams see how their contributions matter.
5. Think Critically
The best leaders are lifelong learners. They challenge assumptions, seek diverse perspectives, and make decisions with clarity and confidence, even in uncertain situations.
Good leaders start learning. Great leaders never stop.
6. Communicate Clearly
Clear, honest communication builds alignment and trust. The best leaders listen as much as they speak and create cultures where open dialogue leads to better decisions and stronger teams.
7. Create Accountability
True accountability isn’t about control, it’s about ownership. Leaders who model accountability create teams that are responsible, empowered, and driven to perform at their best.
Leading With Strengths: Four Leadership Styles
Every leader naturally excels in certain areas, and the best way to grow is to lean into those strengths.
You may have heard of different leadership models, Daniel Goleman’s six leadership styles, situational leadership, and others. While these are valuable, I love a different approach: choosing a leadership style based on awareness of your natural strengths.
There is no single leadership style that is superior. The right approach depends on the environment, context, company size, maturity, goals, purpose, and culture.
To begin with, self-awareness is key. Whether through the CliftonStrengths assessment or personal reflection, start by identifying which style sounds most like you.
You likely have a mix, but if you ask a close colleague or mentor how they would describe your leadership, their answer will likely point to your dominant style.
Gallup’s research identifies four leadership styles based on strengths:
The People-Oriented Leader (Relationship Builder): You foster trust and connection but may struggle with holding people accountable
The Process-Oriented Leader (Executor): You create systems and efficiency but may become rigid and resistant to change
The Thought-Oriented Leader (Strategist): You see the big picture but may get stuck in analysis without action
The Impact-Oriented Leader (Influencer): You inspire action and push for results but may set unrealistic expectations or shift direction too often.
Knowing your dominant leadership style helps you lead authentically, work more effectively, and avoid common pitfalls.
Reclaim Your Leadership, Reclaim Your Life
If leadership feels overwhelming, it’s not because you’re failing, it’s because you’re trying to lead in ways that don’t align with who you are. When you understand and leverage your natural strengths, leadership stops being exhausting and starts being energizing.
There are many reasons leadership can feel overwhelming. Maybe your career moved so fast that you made choices before your soul had time to catch up. Maybe you followed great advice from mentors or modeled yourself after inspiring leaders, but now, it’s time to make your path uniquely yours.
Perhaps life circumstances have changed since you first stepped into leadership, or maybe you’ve changed as a person. It’s always a good idea to reconnect with yourself, to revisit your values and purpose, and to realign with what truly matters to you.
I’ve seen incredible transformation in my clients when they name their strengths and reconnect the dots between who they are and how they lead. They move from exhaustion to expansion, from self-doubt to confidence, from burnout to possibility.
Sometimes, the biggest shift isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing things differently, in ways that align with who you truly are.
Want to Lead With More Confidence and Ease?
I help leaders like you cut through the noise, reclaim their time and energy, and lead with clarity and confidence. Through executive coaching, we’ll identify your unique leadership style, maximize your strengths, and create a leadership approach that feels natural and sustainable.
If you focus on people's weaknesses, they loose confidence.
Let’s chat about how executive coaching can help you align your leadership with your strengths. [Email me] to start the conversation.
Let's explore coaching options and discover how to lead in a way that actually works for You.
Hi, I’m Monika, Strengths Coach, facilitator, social-profit organization leader, and photographer. I’m here to help you own your vision for meaningful growth and transformation, uncover your unique leadership strengths, and empower you and your team to thrive and create lasting impact. Passionate about driving change within, around, and beyond, I love supporting fellow change-makers on their journeys.
I hope you’ll visit often, and I look forward to connecting and working together!
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