Leadership Is Like Walking Multiple Tightropes at Once

Leadership isn’t about choosing between extremes, it’s about walking many fine lines.

Day to day, leaders are constantly navigating a series of delicate balancing acts. Each one requires intention, awareness, and adjustment. Get it right, and your team thrives. Lean too far to one side, and things start to wobble.

Some of the most common tightropes leaders walk include:

• Micromanaging vs. being an absent manager
  Hover too much, and your team feels smothered. Disappear entirely, and they feel unsupported.

• Challenging your team too much (burnout) vs. not enough (disengagement)
  High performers want to grow—but too much, too fast can wear them down. Not enough challenge, and they check out.

• Caring deeply vs. holding people accountable
  It’s possible to be empathetic and still expect high standards. One doesn’t cancel out the other.

• Giving clear direction vs. leaving space for autonomy
  People want to know where they’re going—but they also want to feel ownership in how they get there.

• Being authentic vs. maintaining professional boundaries
  Show up as a real human—and still remember that you’re in a leadership role.

And that’s just the beginning. The best leaders aren’t perfect—they’re just aware. They reflect. They adjust.

So how do you stay balanced?

There’s no magic formula, but there are two practices I recommend again and again:

1️⃣ Self-Reflection

Developing strong self-awareness is one of the most powerful tools in a leader’s toolkit. It helps you identify when you're off-center—and gives you the chance to course-correct.

In practice:
Make reflection part of your daily rhythm. Something as simple as a sticky note on your dashboard, bathroom mirror, or laptop case can prompt a moment of introspection. Write a few questions on it, like:

• "Have I been leaning too far into control this week?"

• "Is my team stretched or stressed?"

• "Have I made time to connect with individuals, not just manage them?"

These micro-check-ins build macro-awareness over time.

2️⃣ Ask Your Team

If you’ve cultivated trust, your team will tell you what they need—but only if you ask.

Create space for honest feedback with simple, open-ended questions like:
💬 “How’s your workload right now?”
💬 “Are you getting enough support?”
💬 “Is there anything more you need from me right now?”

This isn’t about being liked—it’s about staying aligned. Their insights are your map.

The tightrope metaphor exists for a reason—leadership is full of nuance. But with consistent self-reflection and open communication, you can stay balanced more often than not.

The goal isn’t to walk perfectly—it’s to walk consciously.