Aarushi, I used to have similar beliefs about what a leader should be. But when I actually became a leader, I turned out to be the opposite.
My natural style is to speak only when needed, listen more, and build a team that truly supports one another. There was a lot of pressure on me to change my leadership style, but I couldn’t — it wasn’t authentic to me. Instead, I chose to adapt the positive aspects: being more visible, networking, and building a strong support system.
Empathy played a major role too — it helped me increase my manager score almost tenfold, and it made me feel deeply connected with my team.
