Leadership today is as broad as it is deep. Across industries, leaders are increasingly asked to steward complex portfolios, often spanning functions they didn’t originally train in. This evolution reflects trust in a leader’s adaptability and vision—but it also demands a particular discipline: knowing when to lead from the front, and when to let expertise lead.
One of the subtler risks in modern leadership is the temptation to substitute our authority or instincts for domain mastery. The higher we rise, the more comfortable we must become with the truth that we are no longer the smartest person in every room—and that is exactly as it should be.
Yet human nature pulls us otherwise. When faced with work we don’t fully understand, it’s natural to rely on what does feel familiar: personal judgment, past experience in other domains, or even taste. Without care, this instinct can unintentionally overshadow the expertise of those hired to bring depth to the work.
Leadership Discipline
In my years of leadership, I’ve learned this lesson repeatedly: the most successful teams are those where leaders practice intentional humility—recognizing when their role is to ask good questions, set clear vision, and clear barriers, not to dictate method or outcome in areas best left to experts.
This requires self-awareness. It requires curiosity. And it requires vigilance against the subtle signals of overreach:
- When do I find myself offering “gut instinct” in areas where data or professional standards should prevail?
- When do I lean on personal comfort over collective wisdom?
- Am I nurturing networks and habits that keep me connected to the evolving best practices of the fields I oversee?
Leadership at its best is about enabling brilliance, not competing with it. It’s about creating the conditions where your team’s expertise can flourish—without needing to be filtered through your own experience to feel valid.
As our portfolios continue to expand, this mindset isn’t just nice to have. It’s essential. Our institutions, our teams, and our missions depend on it.