Helping businesses attract and retain diverse talent
Helping businesses attract and retain diverse talent
In times of uncertainty, many leaders reach instinctively for control.
We double down on structure. We micromanage. We tighten processes, increase oversight, and attempt to steer every outcome. Not because we don’t trust our teams—but because, in moments of instability, control feels like safety.
But the truth is this: control is not the same as leadership. And in the long term, it is not sustainable.
What truly holds a team together in uncertain times isn’t rigid – it’s trust. It’s presence. It’s a quiet but grounded confidence that says: We may not know exactly what’s coming next, but we know who we are and we’ll work it out together.
This article explores how confident leadership, not controlling leadership, builds stronger, more resilient teams. And why stepping back is sometimes the boldest step forward.
Let’s be honest, leadership comes with pressure – responsibility for outcomes, people, culture, and communication. When stakes are high and clarity is low, it’s tempting to fall into control-mode. To believe that if we just work harder, hold tighter, or stay visible in every decision, things will feel more certain.
But control, when driven by fear, becomes a crutch. It narrows perspective. It slows down creativity. It leaves teams disempowered and leaders exhausted.
Over time, a controlled team may still function, but it won’t flourish. People will begin to withhold ideas, defer to authority, and wait to be told what to do. Initiative shrinks. Trust erodes. And the leader becomes a bottleneck, not a guide.
The more we control, the less others grow.
Leading with confidence is not the same as leading with command. It’s not about being loud, unshakable, or always right. It’s about being rooted.
Rooted in self-awareness. Rooted in clarity. Rooted in trust – of both self and others.
Confident leaders can say “I don’t know” without losing authority. They can delegate without disappearing. They can hold space for discomfort without rushing to fix it.
And crucially, they allow their teams to think, stretch, and own.
Confidence in leadership doesn’t shrink a room. It opens it.
So what does it look like to move from control-based leadership to confidence-based leadership? Here are four mindset shifts that mark the difference:
1. From Telling to Trusting
Control says: “I need to oversee everything.” Confidence says: “I trust my team to make good decisions.”
Instead of dictating every step, confident leaders provide direction, and then step back. They trust their people to interpret, adapt, and innovate. They create a foundation of trust that enables growth.
This doesn’t mean stepping away entirely. It means staying available, without being invasive.
2. From Answers to Curiosity
Control thrives on certainty. Confidence is comfortable with inquiry.
When challenges arise, confident leaders ask better questions instead of rushing in with solutions. They involve the team in sense-making, decision-making, and problem-solving. They know that co-created answers are more sustainable – and often more insightful – than top-down directives.
3. From Presence as Pressure to Presence as Support
Some leaders equate visibility with control—hovering in every meeting, copied into every email.
But confident presence is different. It’s not performative. It’s relational. It means being emotionally available, strategically attuned, and open to dialogue. It’s the difference between monitoring and mentoring.
4. From Perfection to Purpose
Controlling leaders aim to eliminate error. Confident leaders aim to stay aligned with purpose – even when mistakes occur.
They know that learning, experimentation, and even failure are part of building something meaningful. They hold the long view. They keep the team connected to why the work matters, not just how to get it done.
The last few years have asked more of leaders than perhaps any other time in recent memory. Across healthcare, education, business, and community settings, leaders have had to make fast decisions with limited information and emotional exhaustion in the room.
It’s no surprise that control can feel tempting. But it’s in these moments that confident leadership matters most.
Because people don’t just need direction in uncertain times, they need steadiness. They need to feel that their leader is anchored, even when the circumstances aren’t. They need to be trusted, empowered, and respected, not micromanaged, restricted, or ignored.
And leaders, in turn, need permission to not have all the answers. To lead from clarity, not certainty. To offer presence, not perfection.
If you recognise yourself in control-mode, know this: it’s a natural response. But you’re allowed to choose differently.
Here are some ways to begin building leadership confidence from within:
1. Reconnect with Your Core Values What matters most to you as a leader? What do you want people to experience in your presence? Re-ground yourself in your “why.” It will help you make clearer, calmer decisions.
2. Build Psychological Safety on Your Team Confidence in leadership flows from trust in your team – and vice versa. Invite honest feedback. Celebrate learning moments. Model vulnerability. People will respond in kind.
3. Reflect, Don’t React When things feel chaotic, take a breath. Ask: Am I responding from fear, or from purpose? Reactivity often leads to control. Reflection leads to confidence.
4. Share Power Let go of the belief that leadership means holding all responsibility. Leadership means creating conditions where others can thrive. Share ownership. Co-create vision. Watch your team step into their own leadership.
5. Invest in Your Inner Work Confidence is an inside job. Journaling, coaching, or even a regular “values check-in” can help you stay aligned. You don’t need to build confidence alone—but you do need to prioritise it.
Leadership is not about having control over everything—it’s about holding space for something greater.
Teams are not looking for perfection. They are looking for clarity, calm, and connection. They want to be led by someone who knows themselves well enough to let others shine.
So, if you find yourself grasping for control, take a pause. Ask yourself:
What would it look like to lead from confidence here—not control?
You might be surprised by the strength that emerges when you loosen the grip.