Anna Liebel is a trusted advisor who helps entrepreneurs, startup founders, and leadership teams break free from burnout and reach their goals without compromising their personal well-being.
Leadership is not some cookie-cutter role. It is a relationship, unique with every person. I have learned this in tough environments, especially when the stakes are high and everything feels urgent. In the high-velocity environment, it is way too easy to get tunnel vision. We focus so much on the results, deadlines, and KPIs that we forget the human side of the equation.
In recent years, I have caught myself slipping into that mode, pushing for performance without asking: “How’s my team actually doing?” Not just in terms of output but emotionally, mentally, and energetically. That had never been an issue back in my corporate days. But running my own online business and having a fully virtual team has given me a humbling lesson.
The truth is, great leadership isn’t just about driving results—it’s about connection, listening, learning, and showing up consistently in ways that serve your team, rather than simply managing them. I’ve discovered that people need to feel heard, trusted, and safe if I want them to contribute their best selves–no matter if we see each other in person or not.
So now, I try to check in more on myself and them. I keep asking: “Am I being the leader they truly need right now? Or am I just acting out the version of leadership I think I’m supposed to?”. The kind of leader I want to be is someone who leads with intention, empathy, and impact, not just efficiency. It changes everything.
Lesson 1: Results are important, but real leadership happens when you connect
Remember, people join companies, brands, and visions, but they leave managers. Failing to show up as the leader our employees need to thrive leads to us failing our teams and the organization’s goals.
Performance alone doesn’t guarantee trust or loyalty. As a leader, it’s easy to get caught up in execution mode, unknowingly neglecting the emotional and psychological needs of your team. Are your people truly heard? Are you fully present, or just available? Teams need leaders who bring both competence and compassion to the table. Leadership isn’t just about managing tasks. It’s about understanding and addressing the deeper emotional currents that affect how your team performs. When we fail to engage with these emotional and psychological needs, we miss the opportunity to foster trust and loyalty, leaving our teams feeling disconnected and unsupported.
We’ll talk about where to start with building that true connection as a leader in the next episode of what I call ‘Leadership Happens’ series.
Anna Liebel is a Mindshifter who helps entrepreneurial leaders and their teams stay sane while building the next big thing, and perform optimally without personal sacrifice. She partners with founders and executive teams who feel trapped by the pressure to succeed, and guides them to build sustainable, high-performance habits without sacrificing their health or relationships. Through tailored support, Anna helps them find the best ways to collaborate and lead with clarity, confidence, and balance.
Anna currently teaches at the Reykjavik University, delivering leadership and personal development courses (Well-being, Leadership and Effective Teamwork, Critical Thinking) to undergraduate students who major in Business Administration and Economics.
