Start Leading Like a Lion

Everyone's trying to manage their anxiety.
Calm it. Control it. Contain it.

But I don't believe the goal is calm.
The goal is power.

The type of inner power you see in a lion - not the frantic vigilance of a guard dog.

The Problem with Guard Dog Leadership

The guard dog is always on alert.
Scanning for threats.
Barking for approval.
Running on adrenaline and validation.
It mistakes tension for readiness.

Here's what this actually looks like:

You're constantly checking Slack. 

Over-explaining in meetings. 

Expecting someone else to validate your decisions. 

Waiting for the other shoe to drop.

You're exhausted, but you call it "being committed."

The guard dog believes its value comes from vigilance.
And honestly, this works. For a while.

Guard dog energy got you promoted. It helped you survive the chaos. You were rewarded for it.

But at some point, you realize the strategy that got you here is now the ceiling keeping you stuck.

It annoys me that so much content right now pushes you to be even MORE on high alert to avoid getting laid off or find a job quickly.

The narrative is: work harder, stay vigilant, prove your value every single day.

They call it "drive," but really, it's anxiety dressed up as ambition.

Lion Leadership: A Different Way

The lion moves differently.

It doesn't chase. It doesn't prove.
It knows who it is, trusts its instincts, and leads with quiet focus and decisive power.

The lion doesn't hustle for validation because it's not looking for permission to lead.
It already knows it belongs.

This isn't arrogance. It's alignment.
It's the absence of the constant internal negotiation that drains you.

Most tech leaders I coach arrive in guard dog mode.

The real shift happens when we learn to lead like lions.

Grounded. Clear. Fully in our own power.
That's when the noise drops, clarity rises, and results flow with less effort.

Here are the three ways to make that shift.

Shift 1: From Performing to Leading

Guard dogs perform: over-explaining, over-justifying, seeking approval they don't need.

Lions lead: they speak with clarity, decide with confidence, and don't apologize for their authority.

The practice: Notice when you're performing (justifying, explaining, defending). Pause. Ask yourself: "What would I say if I didn't need their approval?"

Then say that.

The difference is felt - both by you, and by them. 

Shift 2: From Waiting to Deciding

Guard dogs wait for perfect information, more data, full consensus. They're paralyzed by the need for certainty.

Lions trust their judgment and move. They know that speed and conviction matter more than certainty.

The practice: Identify one decision you've been delaying. Make it today, even if you don't have all the answers.

You'll learn more from action than from waiting.
The practice isn't about being right every time.

It's about trusting yourself enough to decide.

Shift 3: From Earning to Embodying

Guard dogs hustle to prove they belong. They work harder, stay later, do more - constantly earning their seat at the table.

Lions already know they belong. They lead from that truth.

The practice: Ask yourself: "What would I do differently if I already knew I belonged here?"

What would you stop doing? What would you start?

Stop earning. Start embodying.

The moment you stop proving, they start believing.

The Truth About Power

The power was never in the bark.
It was never in the hustle, the hypervigilance, or the need to prove yourself.

The power is in the knowing.
Knowing who you are.

Knowing what you're capable of. 

Knowing you don't need permission to lead at the highest level.

That's what it means to be In-EFF-able.
(You can read more about the In-eff-able Framework in the Our Approach section here)