Kevin Rahe’s Post

Loudness is not Leadership - despite evidence to the contrary! We often confuse confidence for competence, Net effect: Over-confident people rise to leadership positions. Charismatic, talk well, give rousing speeches, and take the airtime in meetings with BFO (blinding flash of the obvious) comments. Then, they get promoted to leadership positions. Somehow, we’re still surprised they are poor leaders!. The best leaders I have worked with are ✔️ active listeners, ✔️ humble, ✔️ considerate, and ✔️ high emotional intelligence. I’m coaching Beatrice; when asked why she missed a leadership position, she was told to… 1️⃣ show more leadership gravitas and 2️⃣ improve your presence and visibility Here’s my inner turmoil: I don’t want to coach Beatrice to be more arrogant, inconsiderate, or dominant. It’s not her, and the world doesn’t need more of these overconfident leaders. Instead, in our coaching, we’ve worked on: ✔️ how her leadership style makes her better than your typical loud leader ✔️ reframe and build her confidence that her voice counts even if she’s not as articulate as some of her big-talking colleagues ✔️ recognise that her team, peers and seniors respect her for her EQ and consensus leadership style ✔️ improving her communication style to be crisp and concise Beatrice doesn’t have a problem that needs to be “fixed”. We’re building on where she is now, valuing what she is good at and developing true confidence that who she is is enough. If you’re looking to build on from where you are at (not be “fixed”) then let's have a chat.

Feeling like you're either completely overwhelmed or completely checked out? Here's the thing about leadership - we swing between two extremes. Either we're frantically trying to control everything (spoiler alert: impossible) or we throw our hands up and say "whatever happens, happens." Let's face it, neither of those states help you project confidence. It doesn't feel good when you can't be on top of everything. And if you've been a high performer, just saying "I'm not going to worry about stuff I can't control" feels like you're giving up. Like an abdication of responsibility. So here's what highly effective leaders do differently: They stay fiercely connected to what's important to them without being attached to how things are going at any one time. Think of it this way - when you're on a ship at sea, they tell you to do two things to manage seasickness: - Stay in the center of the boat where it's rocking less - Keep your eyes on the horizon - Keeping your eye on the horizon helps you avoid focusing on all the individual ups and downs, which drives you crazy. Get clear on what your horizon is - what your North Star is - and keep focused on it. That's the single biggest thing you can do to project confidence when things are changing and there's too much to keep track of. The goal isn't to stop the waves. It's to ride them with clarity, adaptability, and resilience. What's your North Star right now? If this resonates with your leadership team, feel free to share it with your colleagues. Sometimes we all need a reminder to focus on what truly matters. Got leadership questions? DM me. Ready to explore your authentic leadership approach? Link in my bio.

I am a late bloomer. What that means to me, and what I mean in this context is that I am someone who came to a deep understanding about and acceptance of myself later in life. One of the things I discerned over time specific to my leadership style is that my default style is as a servant leader/servant leadership. If you know me and have seen me in leadership roles, this is a no-brainer. For whatever reason, it took my brain some time to be able to acknowledge this fact about myself. Given this leadership style, I want to offer some advice/things to keep in mind for fellow servant leaders to continue to serve others while also balancing personal needs. This advice is coming through my own lived experience and ways that I am going to have to execute my leadership differently to ensure that I don't continue to burn out in work environments. 1. Boundaries. Oftentimes as servant leaders, we have no problem being in service to other people, sometimes in ways that can be to our detriment. Service is at the heart of this leadership, but turning yourself into a martyr and/or self abandonment are not. Please create and maintain the necessary boundaries so that you do not burn out in your efforts to lead. 2. Main Character Syndrome. This is not something you should be embodying most of the time as a servant leader (in general, or in most leadership styles as a whole); however, there are times where you, instead of service, need to come first. Part of being able to lead effectively is knowing who you are and how you show up. #LeadershipStyles #ServantLeadership

Kind Leadership > Nice Leadership. Here’s the crucial difference. We often use "kind" and "nice" interchangeably, but in leadership, they represent vastly different approaches with dramatically different outcomes. The attached model clarifies this distinction perfectly: Nice Leaders operate from a place of "Passive Acceptance." Their focus is on maintaining harmony and a"vanity reputation." They prioritize being polite and liked in the moment, often avoiding difficult conversations. When challenges arise, they are more likely to follow than to lead. This episodic approach, while comfortable, often fails to address core issues. Kind Leaders practice "Empathetic Accountability." This is the powerful fusion of genuine care and courageous truth-telling.They are loyal to their values, not just the mood. They rock the boat when it's worth it, face difficult conversations head-on, and explain problems realistically. They lead from the front during challenging times because they care too much about their people and the mission to settle for comfort over progress. The takeaway? Nice leaders want to be liked.Kind leaders want their teams to succeed and grow, even if it requires temporary discomfort. True leadership isn't about being pleasant; it's about being effective, authentic, and brave. It’s about holding people capable and creating an environment where honesty and excellence can thrive. #Leadership #Management #CompanyCulture # EmotionalIntelligence #ProfessionalDevelopment #KindLeadership #ExecutiveCoaching

💭Authentic leaders understand a fundamental truth: their role isn't to be the brightest star in the room, but to help others discover their own light. I've learned that leadership isn't about the title on your business card. It's about those quiet moments when someone on your team is struggling, and you choose to listen instead of lecture. It's about admitting when you don't know something and figuring it out together. Real leaders don't just assign tasks - they see potential in people. They don't demand respect - they earn it one conversation at a time. They don't hog the credit - they push their team into the spotlight. 🔥Here's what I've noticed about genuine leadership: ✔ It's more about asking "How can I help?" than giving orders. ✔ It's showing up consistently, especially when things get tough. ✔ It's being okay with not being the smartest person in the room. ✔ It's making others feel heard, valued, and capable. ✔ It's doing the right thing even when nobody's watching. 6 things that actually matter in leadership: 1. Listen like you mean it - People can tell when you're really paying attention vs. just waiting for your turn to talk. 2. Ask better questions - Instead of "Why didn't this work?" try "What would you do differently next time?" 3. Share your mistakes - When you mess up and own it, you give others permission to be human too. 4. Celebrate others loudly - Make a bigger deal about your team's wins than your own achievements. 5. Stay true to who you are - People follow authentic leaders, not perfect ones. 6. It's about uplifting others when they really need your assistance. The truth is: The best leaders I know are remembered for how they made people feel about themselves, not how impressive they seemed. #leadership #emapthy #EQ #compassion

💭Authentic leaders understand a fundamental truth: their role isn't to be the brightest star in the room, but to help others discover their own light. I've learned that leadership isn't about the title on your business card. It's about those quiet moments when someone on your team is struggling, and you choose to listen instead of lecture. It's about admitting when you don't know something and figuring it out together. Real leaders don't just assign tasks - they see potential in people. They don't demand respect - they earn it one conversation at a time. They don't hog the credit - they push their team into the spotlight. 🔥Here's what I've noticed about genuine leadership: ✔ It's more about asking "How can I help?" than giving orders. ✔ It's showing up consistently, especially when things get tough. ✔ It's being okay with not being the smartest person in the room. ✔ It's making others feel heard, valued, and capable. ✔ It's doing the right thing even when nobody's watching. 6 things that actually matter in leadership: 1. Listen like you mean it - People can tell when you're really paying attention vs. just waiting for your turn to talk. 2. Ask better questions - Instead of "Why didn't this work?" try "What would you do differently next time?" 3. Share your mistakes - When you mess up and own it, you give others permission to be human too. 4. Celebrate others loudly - Make a bigger deal about your team's wins than your own achievements. 5. Stay true to who you are - People follow authentic leaders, not perfect ones. 6. It's about uplifting others when they really need your assistance. The truth is: The best leaders I know are remembered for how they made people feel about themselves, not how impressive they seemed. #leadership #emapthy #EQ #compassion

💭Authentic leaders understand a fundamental truth: their role isn't to be the brightest star in the room, but to help others discover their own light. I've learned that leadership isn't about the title on your business card. It's about those quiet moments when someone on your team is struggling, and you choose to listen instead of lecture. It's about admitting when you don't know something and figuring it out together. Real leaders don't just assign tasks - they see potential in people. They don't demand respect - they earn it one conversation at a time. They don't hog the credit - they push their team into the spotlight. 🔥Here's what I've noticed about genuine leadership: ✔ It's more about asking "How can I help?" than giving orders. ✔ It's showing up consistently, especially when things get tough. ✔ It's being okay with not being the smartest person in the room. ✔ It's making others feel heard, valued, and capable. ✔ It's doing the right thing even when nobody's watching. 6 things that actually matter in leadership: 1. Listen like you mean it - People can tell when you're really paying attention vs. just waiting for your turn to talk. 2. Ask better questions - Instead of "Why didn't this work?" try "What would you do differently next time?" 3. Share your mistakes - When you mess up and own it, you give others permission to be human too. 4. Celebrate others loudly - Make a bigger deal about your team's wins than your own achievements. 5. Stay true to who you are - People follow authentic leaders, not perfect ones. 6. It's about uplifting others when they really need your assistance. The truth is: The best leaders I know are remembered for how they made people feel about themselves, not how impressive they seemed. #leadership #emapthy #EQ #compassion

True leadership is never about titles or spotlight, but about lifting others up and helping them discover their own strength. The most impactful leaders listen deeply, ask the right questions, celebrate their team’s wins, and lead with humility and authenticity. They are remembered not for how impressive they appeared but for how they made others feel valued, capable, and inspired. In a world that often confuses power with leadership, genuine leaders stand out by choosing service, empathy, and integrity. #AuthenticLeadership #LeadWithHeart #InspireOthers #EmpathyInAction #TrueLeaders

💭Authentic leaders understand a fundamental truth: their role isn't to be the brightest star in the room, but to help others discover their own light. I've learned that leadership isn't about the title on your business card. It's about those quiet moments when someone on your team is struggling, and you choose to listen instead of lecture. It's about admitting when you don't know something and figuring it out together. Real leaders don't just assign tasks - they see potential in people. They don't demand respect - they earn it one conversation at a time. They don't hog the credit - they push their team into the spotlight. 🔥Here's what I've noticed about genuine leadership: ✔ It's more about asking "How can I help?" than giving orders. ✔ It's showing up consistently, especially when things get tough. ✔ It's being okay with not being the smartest person in the room. ✔ It's making others feel heard, valued, and capable. ✔ It's doing the right thing even when nobody's watching. 6 things that actually matter in leadership: 1. Listen like you mean it - People can tell when you're really paying attention vs. just waiting for your turn to talk. 2. Ask better questions - Instead of "Why didn't this work?" try "What would you do differently next time?" 3. Share your mistakes - When you mess up and own it, you give others permission to be human too. 4. Celebrate others loudly - Make a bigger deal about your team's wins than your own achievements. 5. Stay true to who you are - People follow authentic leaders, not perfect ones. 6. It's about uplifting others when they really need your assistance. The truth is: The best leaders I know are remembered for how they made people feel about themselves, not how impressive they seemed. #leadership #emapthy #EQ #compassion

"What if instead of modeling good leadership, you just be a good leader?" This question from my leadership coach hit harder than I expected. I was not prepared for how it made me feel. In describing my goals for a new executive position, I had said those exact words, "I want to model good leadership." She wasted no time putting them right back in front of me. "What if, instead of just checking the boxes, you dealt with the part of you that prefers 'doing' over 'being'? What if those things were more than just another task on your list?" That conversation exposed me. I wanted to connect with that new team I'd be leading, but I was relying more on performance than presence. I've spent much of my life on big stages, which makes it too easy to "play a role." The problem is that teams feel it when you're playing the leader instead of being their leader. I couldn't unsee what she had shown me. I saw all the opportunities I'd missed to invest in people in ways that mattered to them because I was so focused on getting things done. Right then, I made a commitment to myself: Being first. Doing second. Years later, I still come back to that moment. Leadership isn't something you just check off a list. It has to start with who you are and then flow to what you do. When do you notice yourself falling into acting like a leader, instead of actually being one?