Ever wonder if you're the bottleneck in your own business?
According to MIT Sloan Management Review, fifty-eight percent of executives admit their leadership approach hasn't evolved with their organization's growth stage. What worked brilliantly at five employees creates chaos at fifty. In this revealing episode, we sit down with Dr. Christiane Schroeter—TEDx speaker, top one percent podcaster, and leadership coach with a PhD in health economics—to explore how rigid leadership identities create predictable bottlenecks. Discover why self-awareness beats strategy, how to recognize when you're draining your team's energy, and why small leadership adjustments create massive organizational shifts. Whether you're consensus-driven facing rapid scaling or hands-on struggling to delegate, this conversation will challenge how you see yourself as a leader.
Leadership isn't about following a rigid playbook. It's about aligning your energy with what your business actually needs at each stage of growth. The warning signs are clear: if you feel drained walking into team meetings, if decisions stall endlessly, if everyone's frantic but nothing moves forward—your leadership style needs adjustment.
Dr. Schroeter introduces the concept of petite practice, taking small, consistent steps to refine your leadership approach rather than attempting wholesale transformation overnight. Self-awareness becomes your most valuable tool. Before entering any room, ask yourself what energy you're bringing and whether it serves your team's needs in that moment.
Different situations demand different leadership approaches. Crisis moments require decisive direction. Strategic planning benefits from collaborative input. New hires need coaching while experienced teams thrive with autonomy. The best leaders read the room and adapt accordingly, rather than forcing every situation through their preferred style.
The shift from hands-on operator to strategic leader challenges many founders. You built the business through direct involvement, but scale demands distance. This transition requires gradually releasing control while building systems and hiring operators who complement your strengths. Fighting this evolution creates bottlenecks that cap your company's potential.
One size never fits all in leadership. Your style must flex with company stages, team dynamics, and business needs. The moment you commit rigidly to one approach, you've already limited your effectiveness. Great leadership means constantly evolving, staying curious about what works, and having the courage to adjust when something doesn't.
Watch the Full Episode on Your Leadership Style Is Holding You Back with expert Christiane Schroeter below:
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