More Than Capable: Becoming a Leader Others Want to Follow

No one handed me a guidebook when I became a project leader in the corporate world. I had the frameworks, the timelines, the systems—but what no one tells you is that the real work begins where the plan ends: with the people. Over the years, I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that managing personalities, not just projects, is what truly makes or breaks success.

As someone who has led cross-functional teams in high-stakes environments, I’ve come to believe that interpersonal intelligence is one of the few skills you can’t automate or outsource. Your ability to build trust, communicate clearly, and lead with empathy—especially when it would be easier to react—isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s what defines your leadership. And if we’re being honest, it’s what defines your legacy.

Working With People You Don’t See Eye to Eye With

Here’s the truth: you won’t click with everyone you work with throughout your career. And that’s okay. Disagreement does not mean dysfunction. In fact, some of the most powerful breakthroughs I’ve seen have come from people challenging each other’s thinking in a respectful, thoughtful way.

Working with someone you don’t naturally align with isn’t about forcing chemistry—it’s about leading with curiosity. Can you try to understand where they’re coming from, even if you don’t agree? Can you let go of needing to be right so the team can move forward?

The best leaders don’t shy away from tension. They lean into it—not to win, but to understand. That’s where the real collaboration begins.

Listen Like You Mean It

Everyone wants to feel heard. But there’s a big difference between listening to respond and listening to understand—and your team knows the difference.

Active listening is about being fully present. Not just nodding along or waiting for your turn to talk, but actually hearing what’s being said to you. It doesn’t mean you always agree. It simply means you’re creating a culture where people can feel seen and valued. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be present. That alone builds trust—even when you don’t have all the answers.

Grace Is a Choice

People mess up, and you will too. What matters is how you choose to move through it.

Holding onto mistakes—yours or someone else’s—can quickly derail a team. This type of behaviour changes cohesion into tension and keeps people walking on eggshells instead of taking initiative and focusing on the task at hand. Accountability is important, but so is grace. The most respected leaders are the ones who address missteps honestly, learn from them, and move on without weaponizing the past.

Why? Because when people feel safe to speak up, safe to fail, and safe to grow, they don’t just perform better—they show up with more ownership, creativity, and heart.

Empathy—Listening Between the Lines

Empathy is a skill that’s often misunderstood. It’s not about being soft or letting things slide. It’s about tuning in to what’s really going on beneath the surface, and considering what emotions someone might be carrying into the conversation that you can’t see on a project tracker.

When you take a moment to ask, “What might be driving this reaction?” instead of “What’s wrong with them?” you change the energy in the room, and you’re able to lead with insight instead of assumption.

Empathy doesn’t lower standards. It increases communication, and helps you deliver expectations in a way that people can actually hear—and meet.

Lead People Not Projects

Yes, technical skills matter. But in every room I’ve been in throughout my career—from boardrooms to project kickoffs—it’s your ability to lead people through complexity, uncertainty, and challenge that sets you apart.

The future belongs to leaders who can do more than manage tasks. It belongs to those who can inspire trust, navigate conflict with grace, and make people feel like they belong on your team—even in the hard moments.

Being a great project leader isn’t just about being capable. It’s about being someone people want to follow—someone who sees them, supports them, and believes in them.

That’s the kind of leadership that leaves a mark.

►Want to Strengthen the Interpersonal Side of Your Leadership? If you're ready to elevate how you show up in conversations, collaborations, and conflict, join the waitlist for my new course, Key Power Skills For Every Project Manager

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