I’ve been thinking about how some the best leaders I've worked with operate, and one thing stands out: They cut through the noise. They don’t get lost in endless analysis, committees, or layers of delegation. Instead, they focus on the core of the problem, and once they see the answer, they act.
This takes courage. It means trusting the data, questioning assumptions (often their own), and staying open to the idea that what worked before might not work now. Great leaders I've worked with don’t just copy and paste past successes - they test, adapt, and refine until they’re confident in the right path forward.
The same goes for “best practices.” They can be useful, but they’re not plug-and-play solutions. A best practice from one company, team, or industry might not fit neatly into another. Leaders who get this know they have to tailor solutions to their specific people, challenges, and constraints.
The bottom line? Leadership isn’t about making things complicated. The best leaders know when to simplify and when to embrace complexity. The key is having the wisdom and experience to know the difference and the willingness and courage to look directly at both the problem and solution. Even when the "problem" might be them.
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