Jun 16 / Jackie Kennedy

The Beliefs We Lead With

Have you ever paused to ask: What beliefs are guiding my decisions today?

When we talk about leadership, we often talk about what leaders do. How they communicate, the strategies they set, the goals they hit. But we don’t talk enough about what’s underneath all that: the beliefs and biases that quietly influence every decision, reaction, and relationship.

Over the years, I’ve seen how our deeply unconscious beliefs shape the way we lead. Sometimes they push us to perform, persevere, and protect what matters. 

Other times, they quietly reinforce outdated ways of thinking, cloud our judgment, or keep us stuck in a loop of ‘how it’s always been done’.

The tricky part? Most of us don’t realise it’s happening.

We like to believe we’re objective. That our choices are based on logic, data, and experience. But even the most seasoned leaders carry mental models and assumptions that were formed long ago and many no longer serve them, or their teams. It’s like being on autopilot.

In leadership development, we often say: awareness precedes choice. You can’t shift what you can’t see.

That’s why I believe in having a dedicated learning space to explore the unseen forces that shape how we lead: our beliefs and biases. The aim isn’t to judge ourselves or others for having bias; it’s to become more aware of what’s guiding us, so we can lead with greater clarity and impact.

So here’s a prompt to start: What’s one belief you’ve had about leadership that’s shifted? Mine? That good leadership is about having answers. These days, I think it’s more about standing on the shoulders of giants, surrounding yourself with a strong, capable team and creating space and coaching others to come to the answers themselves.

If this sparked something for you, let’s connect. 

I’m always up for a conversation with leaders who are thinking deeply about how they lead and grow their teams. Just pop in a email at jackie@leadme.academy to start the discussion.

Here’s to leading with more awareness!

Onward and upward,

Jackie