Leadership That Shows Up

Leadership is not only about strategy or vision. It is about presence.

Leadership That Shows Up

By Julia LeFevre

In my recent conversation with Hari on Wired to Lead, one theme kept surfacing. Leadership is not only about strategy or vision. It is about presence.

Hari described how, in one of his senior roles, he personally chaired the weekly health and safety calls. Many executives would have handed that responsibility off. But he chose to lead it himself. His presence sent a message that safety was not a formality. It mattered. And when the leader showed up, everyone else took it seriously too.

Hari also shared how important it is to resist the temptation to spin messages for comfort. He stressed that organizations take on the shape of their leaders. If the leader bends the truth or avoids hard facts, the culture follows. But when the leader models honesty, even when the message is hard, the culture begins to reflect that integrity.

This is not just Hari’s story. It is a reminder for all of us. Teams do not only hear what we say. They watch what we do. Presence and integrity are signals that set the tone for trust, accountability, and alignment.

A Next Step for Leaders

This week, consider these three questions:

1. Where might my absence be sending the wrong message to my team

2. What area of my leadership needs more transparency

3. How can I show up in a way that builds trust, even when the message is uncomfortable

Small acts of presence add up. A brief word of honesty, a visible commitment, or a willingness to carry responsibility can shift the culture of an entire team.

Let's keep taking one step at a time, together!

Julia

P.S. Imagine stepping into 2026 free from imposter syndrome, draining conflict, and weak boundaries.
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