In The Audacity of Leadership, I wrote about learning to lead from the front row and the back bench. In football, in politics, in the White House—I learned that people don’t follow the person with the most answers. They follow the one with the most presence.
When I worked for President Obama, I saw the power of leadership that inspired action, not just issued instructions.
That’s the shift from information to influence.
And that’s the shift many leaders still need to make.
It’s not about being the smartest person in the room.
It’s about being the most trusted, the most authentic, and the most anchored.
Leadership Challenge:
This week, don’t default to having all the answers.
Instead, ask:
- Am I inspiring action?
- Am I building trust?
- Am I expanding influence?
If the answer is no, it’s time to rework your strategy.
Because the CEO mindset isn’t about control. It’s about connection.
If you want help developing this kind of executive influence, bring me in to work with your leadership team. We’ll build it from the inside out.
