Why Smart Leaders Still Lose Their Teams

Happy Wednesday!

Welcome to Leadership Unscripted. Each edition, we share 1 Case Study, 1 Framework, 1 Question. These are real moments and practical strategies for rethinking your approach to leadership.

Let’s dive in.

Marcus was known as the “data guy.”

As a Director at a fast-growing SaaS company, he built his reputation on sharp numbers, sharp slides, and sharp opinions.

He came to every meeting with airtight logic and polished presentations.

Leadership loved it. But something felt off.

His team started disengaging—showing up, but tuning out.

One of his reports finally named it in a coaching session:

“Marcus’s decks are impressive. But it’s like we don’t exist until slide 7.”

That comment stuck.

When Marcus brought it up in his own 1:1 coaching, it uncovered a deeper blind spot:

He had been focusing on technical precision—but neglecting the relational dynamics that make leadership work.

What was missing?

• Curiosity about the team’s point of view

• Urgency to include, rather than steamroll 

• Emotional intelligence inviting participation and recognizing others

And perhaps most important—presence.

Not performative presence, but relational presence.

The kind that gives credit, shares air time, and invites people into the process, not just the outcome.

That insight flipped the script. Marcus began shifting how he led meetings, acknowledged collaborators, and invited his team to shape the strategy. He started naming who had helped get the work to where it was—not just reporting on what got done.

Over time, engagement picked up.

So did innovation.

And his team didn’t just follow his lead—they owned it.

Because the most impactful skills in leadership often aren’t on the spreadsheet.

They’re in the space between people.

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1 Framework

The Hidden 3—Curiosity, Urgency, EQ

They don’t show up in metrics—but they shape everything your team feels, sees, and does.

Here’s how to recognize and practice them:

1. Curiosity

   Ask: Who helped make this possible? What perspectives am I missing?

   Great leaders don’t just present—they probe.

2. Urgency (With Inclusion)

   Move fast, but don’t fly solo.

   Build buy-in as you go. Urgency without inclusion breeds rework.

3. Emotional Intelligence

   Name contributions and contributors in the room, not just in the recap.

   Presence is about who you see and elevate, not just how you perform.

These skills aren’t built in dashboards.
They’re built in live moments—where you choose to ask, include, and give credit.

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1 Question

Great leaders grow visibility—without erasing others.  👉 What’s one moment this week where you could have included, acknowledged, or invited someone into the spotlight—and didn’t?

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Real Stories. Real Tools. Real Impact.

Forget the fluff. We’re that company, revealing behind-the-scenes leadership wins and strategies that actually work.

Because all it takes is one bold move to shatter barriers, inspire your team, and make your mark.