🧭 Not all leaders are built for all seasons. Find your sweet spot—and lead where you bring the most value

I recently spoke with someone who introduced themselves as a startup and innovation coach. Naturally, I was curious about their experience. So I asked whether they had ever worked in a startup or been involved in building something from scratch.

His answer? “No, not really. I prefer established environments with structure and clear processes.”

That conversation stuck with me. I think back to all the startup coaches I’ve met who’ve never started anything. Or angel investors who’ve never led a founding team, built a product, or made payroll at 1am.

How can you guide someone if you’ve never felt the weight they carry?

It made me realize how often we see people coaching or leading in environments they’ve never truly experienced themselves.

Leadership is not one-size-fits-all

We often treat leadership as a transferable skill—something you can apply the same way, regardless of the context. But that’s simply not true. Leadership is highly contextual. Each phase of a business demands a different mindset, skill set, and energy level.