Striving for Growth as a Leader
As leaders, we must continuously evolve to bring out the best in our teams, understand underlying challenges, and develop creative solutions. Leadership is not a static role—it requires constant learning and adaptation. Leaders who fail to invest in their own growth don’t just stagnate personally; their lack of progress ripples across the team, affecting morale, innovation, and business outcomes.
One of the most crucial traits of an effective leader is curiosity—the ability to view every situation with fresh eyes rather than relying on past experiences to dictate future decisions. Just because a problem looks similar to one we’ve encountered before doesn’t mean the same solution will apply. In fact, attempting to reuse old formulas in new contexts can sometimes lead to disaster.
Avoiding the Trap of Familiar Solutions
Consider a doctor treating a patient. A responsible physician doesn’t blindly prescribe medication just because the symptoms resemble those of a previous case. Instead, they run tests, rule out possibilities, and adapt their approach based on unique patient needs. Leaders should adopt the same mindset—approaching challenges with curiosity rather than assumption.
Unfortunately, some organizations still evaluate leaders based on outdated criteria. For example, I once interviewed for a Director of Engineering role where I was asked to write a Fibonacci sequence pseudocode. While I completed the task effortlessly (some technical skills never fade!), the experience left me questioning whether the company truly understood what they needed in a leader. Strong leadership isn’t about memorizing algorithms—it’s about fostering problem-solving, adaptability, and critical thinking within teams.
Empowering Teams Through Open Dialogue
In one of my leadership roles, I inherited a team working on a poorly designed platform that significantly limited their ability to implement enhancements. Upon reviewing the architecture with senior engineers, I discovered a major flaw. Surprisingly, the team had noticed it too but felt unable to challenge the previous engineering leader’s decision.
This experience reinforced a key lesson: Technical acumen is important, but so is creating a culture where team members feel comfortable voicing concerns. Leadership isn’t about dictating solutions; it’s about fostering collaboration, empowering teams, and being open to feedback—even when it challenges our own assumptions.
Cultivating a Leadership Mindset
To lead effectively, we must cultivate a mindset of openness, curiosity, and humility. This means:
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Asking hard questions instead of settling for easy answers
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Being willing to learn from those closer to the details
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Encouraging team members to challenge assumptions
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Letting go of ego and embracing diverse perspectives
A leader consumed by their own perceived greatness will struggle to drive real innovation. True leadership lies in guiding teams toward the best possible solutions—not just the most familiar ones.
Author Vidhya Chandrasekaran Senior Technology Leader linkedin.com/in/srividhya-chandrasekaran
