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.

For a team, leadership is more than just their leader’s actions. It’s also about who they are as a person. I’ve realized that my appearance matters just as much as the choices I make. In addition to observing my actions, my team also notices the tone I use, the attitude I convey, and the atmosphere I bring into the room. Those who remain open, present, and aware are the best leaders I have ever worked with, not those who know all the answers. I strive to be that type of leader. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being authentic in showing up, learning from mistakes, and endeavoring to grow. The process involves checking in regularly and being willing to question my habits, my assumptions, and my leadership.

That’s why I make it my responsibility to stop often and test myself with tough questions. Asking myself: ‘Am I leading well?‘ is not enough — I go deeper and ask, ‘Am I becoming the leader my team needs today?‘ Their preferences aren’t limited or static. They evolve with new challenges, shifting goals, and even personal development. I risk falling behind if all I’m doing is what worked six months ago. I need to lead with empathy, curiosity, and adaptability if I want to actually help them.

This means listening more, speaking less, and allowing others to shine. Leadership is a relationship, and relationships work when we accept people for who they are instead of how we wish them to be.

But with practising connection and adaptability, the features we discussed in the previous two episodes of this ‘Leadership happens‘ series, many leaders face a challenge. ‘Where am I in all this?‘ If we as leaders adapt to our team members’ characters and needs, if we focus on the company’s goals and values, how do we make sure we don’t become a shape-shifter who has no face of their own? That is where boundaries come into play.

Lesson 3: Leadership is a protected space

As a leader, I have learned that true strength does not come from controlling every outcome or being the loudest voice in the room. It comes from creating space for others to think, grow, and lead in their own right. Instead of micromanaging (even when it comes from the best intentions, it is still suffocating for the team), I’ve shifted toward empowering. Instead of giving answers, I ask questions. And instead of swooping in to fix things, I focus on mentoring. This shift wasn’t always easy, especially when I was so used to being hands-on. I’ve realized that if my team isn’t growing in both confidence and capability, the issue isn’t with them — it’s with me. I had to look inward and change how I show up as a leader.

One of the most powerful tools that I have learned in this work is to redefine how I understand boundaries. Previously, I saw them as walls, something that I needed to build to guard my time or energy. That only created tension and confusion, though. Boundaries are not walls — they’re bridges. They help me communicate clearly, protect what matters, and make space for both connection and growth. Since adopting this shift, I’ve found it much easier to set, maintain, and respect boundaries — not just for myself, but with others too. It made me a more grounded leader, and it helped those around me thrive with more clarity and autonomy.

Hope that my sometimes hard-learned leadership lessons helped my reader gain some clarity, get inspiration, and add practical tools to level up their leadership. When we can show up as the leaders our teams need, the energy we put in the work given much more powerful results.

Happy leading!