How To Be The Person People Turn To
Some people have an undeniable gravitational pull.
When things go wrong, when decisions are hard, when uncertainty looms—people turn to them.
Not because they have all the answers, but because they embody something rare: steadiness, clarity, and non-judgement.
This person is not afraid to bare themselves. They know leadership isn’t just about what you do, but how you carry yourself.
When everything else is burning, people remember the calm, collected person. And they set the tone for others.
This person understands the power of non-judgement. They know they need to draw on the collective intelligence of their team, but that people won’t open up if they fear being judged.
Creating a sense of psychological safety means fostering curiosity. That said, people respect the leader who can be critical at the right times: when decisions are going to hurt the team. This is compassionate criticism.
This person knows how to listen like a stone. Most people listen like a stream—rushing, interrupting, splashing over everyone else. The best leaders listen like a stone—steady, weighty; absorbing before responding.
A good leader amplifies the ideas of others, and you can’t do that when you can’t listen.
Lastly, this person can hold space instead of filling it. They’re mature enough to resist the urge to solve, advise, or intellectualise too soon. They know that sometimes, people just need to be heard.
You won’t hear these leaders shouting from the rooftops.
They’re not loud leaders who demand attention, but deep leaders who create trust.
It’s not the 50s anymore. People are inspired by leaders who show up as unique, vulnerable and real. People who can model courage and compassion alongside their operational and strategic acumen.
Loud leaders turn heads but deep leaders turn hearts—and people follow them.
💡 Want to amplify your leadership? I specialise in working with technical leaders; from founders to newly-minted managers. Book a free discovery call today and I’ll explain how I can help you.
—Dan
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