April Sabral Leadership’s Post

Have you every envied the delivery capability of another team, and felt like you should drive your team harder? Or maybe you feel that your team’s creativity and confidence is suffering, and they keep coming to you for direction on what to do next? You can be more deliberate in designing your culture to create the outcomes and behaviors you’re looking for. One important consideration is whether you want a vertical leadership style or a horizontal leadership style. With vertical leadership, there is high power distance between layers in the organization. Those in lower levels follow orders as they are given, and rarely question decisions they disagree with. Before you write this off as inherently bad, you should know that vertical leadership has many benefits. It allows for strong command and control, and a very efficient delivery model. It’s appropriate in highly process oriented organizations, like factories, or where the focus is on delivery of clearly defined projects. Horizontal leadership on the other hand exhibits low power distance between layers. The leader, while they may have ultimate decision making power, is considered just another voice and can be more easily challenged. This model works well in creative industries, where innovation can come from anywhere, or in organizations that are made up of peers, such as law firms or consulting firms. Neither model is inherently good or bad. The right fit depends on what your industry requires, and what phase your company is in at the moment. After all, even in highly creative industries, when the building is on fire you need a leader who says “get out of the building now!” That might not be the right time to empower the team to brainstorm more interesting solutions. What leadership model do you have now, and is it working for you? — Did you find this useful? 📣 Share and follow Wissam Adib for more. Want to master the mental game of leadership? Join global executives receiving weekly insights on transformational leadership: https://lnkd.in/dtUSysN4

Imagine stepping into a new leadership role, eager to bring fresh energy and ideas, only to find yourself haunted by the shadow of your predecessor. Decisions are second-guessed because "this isn’t how we used to do it," assumptions are made about how you'll act based on what the last leader did, and every move is compared to a memory rather than evaluated on its merit. This is role contamination—when an organization continues to relate to a new leader as if they are the old one. It happens in subtle but significant ways. For example, the leader who takes over a “command and control” predecessor may find their collaborative approach dismissed as indecisive, or a leader following a micromanager may be unfairly labeled as detached For the leader, it feels like wearing someone else’s shoes—awkward and ill-fitting. For the organization, it’s a missed opportunity to embrace change and grow. Breaking free from role contamination isn’t easy. It requires clear communication, a willingness to address unspoken assumptions, and patience while the organization adapts to the new approach. If you don't work to decontaminate the role, eventually the contamination will spread to you, and you'll start acting as the previous leader did. Have you experienced this, either as a leader or within a team? What worked (or didn’t) to shift the dynamic? — Did you find this useful? 📣 Share and follow Wissam Adib for more. Want to master the mental game of leadership? Join global executives receiving weekly insights on transformational leadership: https://lnkd.in/dtUSysN4

Are you always on, always taking action, always pushing for more? Yesterday I talked about the natural rhythm of progress: the waves of action and reflection. But we all have one natural state that we prefer over the other. If you said yes to my question above, you’re likely a natural “doer”, always charging ahead but rarely pausing to think. When you don’t reflect, you risk burnout, repeating mistakes, or losing sight of your goals. And speaking of goals, when you lose sight of your own goals you can find yourself working towards the goals of others. I’ve worked with CEOs who have spent their whole career in action mode, finally pausing in their forties or fifties wondering what happened, and how they got here. If doing is starting to become exhausting, isn’t it time to stop for a while and look up? — Did you find this useful? 📣 Share and follow Wissam Adib for more. Want to master the mental game of leadership? Join global executives receiving weekly insights on transformational leadership: https://lnkd.in/dtUSysN4 #leadership #action #reflection #coaching

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Struggling to Get Honest Feedback from Your Team? My latest blog post & video can help! Learn how to ask powerful questions that get you actionable feedback on your path to becoming a better leader.  https://lnkd.in/grzQ8FBq #leadershipdevelopment #feedbackculture #actionablefeedback

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Dear Bare Bones Leaders, Welcome to the inaugural edition of our Bare Bones Leadership newsletter! As seasoned veterans of the U.S. Army and law enforcement, we're excited to share our battle-tested leadership principles with you. Whether you're just starting your journey or seeking to enhance your leadership skills, our mission is to equip you with the essential tools to thrive in any environment. In this month's edition, we're diving into the core fundamentals that form the backbone of effective leadership. Drawing from our combined 43 years of experience, we'll explore practical strategies and actionable insights tailored specifically for emerging leaders like yourself. Here's a sneak peek of what's in store: Foundations of Leadership: Discover the fundamental principles that lay the groundwork for strong leadership. From integrity and resilience to adaptability and accountability, learn how to cultivate these essential traits within yourself. Communication Mastery: Unlock the power of effective communication and learn how to articulate your vision, inspire your team, and foster a culture of collaboration. We'll share techniques honed in high-pressure situations to help you communicate with clarity and confidence. Decision-Making in Action: Explore the art of decision-making under pressure. With real-life anecdotes from our experiences in the field, we'll reveal the strategies behind making sound judgments in challenging situations. Leading by Example: Understand the importance of leading by example and how your actions can inspire those around you. Discover practical ways to demonstrate integrity, professionalism, and dedication in everything you do. Q&A Session: Have burning questions about leadership? Submit your queries, and we'll address them in our Q&A segment. Whether it's navigating conflicts, building trust, or motivating your team, we're here to provide guidance and support. Stay tuned for these insightful topics and more, designed to empower you on your leadership journey. Remember, leadership isn't about titles or rank—it's about making a positive impact and guiding others towards success. Thank you for joining us on this exciting adventure. Together, let's embrace the challenge, lead with purpose, and unleash our full potential. Lead boldly, [Your Name] Bare Bones Leadership

This is an important topic if you want to position yourself as a thought leader: https://ow.ly/5Ot850QonHg #Leadership #LeadershipSkills #LeadershipManagement