Leadership Is Contagious. Here’s How to Spread It.

We often talk about leadership as if it’s a role, something that begins when you’re promoted or when your title changes.

But the truth is, leadership is a collective capacity, not a position. It’s something we build together, moment by moment, through how we show up, communicate, and make decisions.

This month, I’d like to explore a few simple ways to practice leadership wherever you are, drawn from the conversations I’ve had with inspiring guests on Le Podcast on Emerging Leadership.

1. Lead by Clarity and Care

In my discussion with Russ Laraway, author of When They Win, You Win, we talked about how great leadership is measurable. It shows up in clear direction, thoughtful coaching, and meaningful career conversations.
Russ’s advice was simple: set clear expectations, offer real feedback, and invest in people’s growth.

Try this: Pick one person this week and ask, “What’s one thing I could do to better support your success?” Then act on what you hear.

2. Build Trust by Talking About How You Talk

With Jeffrey Fredrick, co-author of Agile Conversations with Douglas Squirrel, we explored the idea that every problem in an organization is ultimately a conversation problem.
Jeffrey shared that high-trust teams don’t just talk about what they’re doing; they talk about how they talk. They examine their assumptions, make their reasoning visible, and invite challenge.

Try this: In your next meeting, pause to ask, “What assumptions might we be making here?” or “Is there something we’re not saying?”

You might be surprised how quickly this opens up honesty and alignment.

3. Empower the People Closest to the Work

In my conversation with Maria Bracho, CTO for LATAM at Red Hat, she shared that the most effective leaders are those who trust their teams to make decisions.
Her insight was clear: People closer to the work usually know best what needs to happen. The leader’s role is to create the conditions for them to act.

Try this: Instead of giving solutions, ask: “What do you think we should do?” Then, genuinely listen.

Empowerment is not a slogan; it’s a daily choice to let others lead.

4. Make Change Feel Possible, One Step at a Time

When I spoke with Tamar Bergovici, VP of Engineering at Box, she described how real transformation doesn’t come from big speeches, it comes from small, consistent actions that build trust and momentum.

Try this: Choose one thing your team has been struggling with. Instead of planning a massive fix, take one visible step forward this week. Then, celebrate it.

Sustainable change isn’t imposed, it’s co-created.

The Leadership Experiment for This Month

Here’s a simple exercise to try over the next two weeks:

Pick one area where you want to see leadership emerge. It could be clarity, trust, empowerment, or change.
Name one small behavior that would make a difference.
Invite others in: tell your team what you’re trying and ask them to join you.
Reflect: What shifted in you? What shifted in others?

Leadership grows when it’s shared.

Keep Exploring

If these ideas resonate, listen (or re-listen) to these episodes of Le Podcast on Emerging Leadership:

Leadership isn’t about having the answers—it’s about creating the space where better answers can emerge.

You can listen wherever you already get your podcasts. Just pick your favorite platform and hit “subscribe” so you won’t miss any new episodes:

And if your favorite platform isn’t on the list, just let me know, I’ll be glad to add it.

I’d love for you to join me there! See you in your earbuds!

Before closing, a quick update! This month, I’ll be in Vienna, delivering the opening keynote at a private client event, while Isabel will deliver the opening keynote for Agile Tour Bordeaux. These talks mark the beginning of a new season, with fresh insights drawn from our upcoming book, set for release next year. If you’re organizing a public or private event and would like us to bring these ideas to your audience, we’d be delighted to join you.