Leadership: Learning to Adjust Your Altitude (and Attitude!)

Leadership isn’t just about setting a vision or managing a team—it’s about navigating seamlessly between the big picture and the small details. Think of it like flying a plane. Some days, you’re cruising at 30,000 feet, mapping the future and plotting strategy. Other times, you’re on the ground, troubleshooting issues and connecting with the people who make your vision a reality.

Adjusting your leadership altitude is a skill that takes practice, but it’s well worth the effort. Recently, I worked with a client—let’s call her Amanda—who struggled with this. As a new VP in a fast-paced tech company, Amanda found herself either stuck in the weeds of operations or floating too high in strategic discussions, disconnected from her team’s day-to-day challenges.

Together, we worked on five altitude-adjusting strategies, and the results were transformative:

1. Listen First, Speak Second

Amanda started by pausing to truly hear her team before diving into solutions. By clamping her jaw shut (her words, not mine!), she allowed her team to share critical insights she’d been missing. This not only gave her a better sense of the issues but also made her team feel valued.

2. Master the Elevator Pitch

When Amanda needed to communicate with her C-suite colleagues, we focused on crafting concise, time-telling messages rather than overwhelming them with unnecessary details. This shift helped her make a stronger impression and gain quicker buy-in for her ideas.

3. Context Is Everything

We worked on ensuring Amanda didn’t assume her team understood decisions made at the top. She became intentional about connecting the dots, explaining not just the “what” but the “why” behind organizational changes. This boosted her team’s alignment and motivation.

4. Spot Patterns, Solve Problems

Amanda began identifying recurring challenges and tackling them proactively. For instance, by addressing a consistent bottleneck in project approvals, she improved workflow efficiency and gained her team’s trust.

5. See the Bigger Picture

Finally, Amanda started viewing her role as part of a larger value chain. She asked herself, “How does my work impact others downstream?” This mindset shift helped her prioritize tasks that drove results for her colleagues and customers alike.

Why Does This Matter?

You might be thinking, "Why should I care about adjusting my leadership altitude?" Here’s the deal: staying stuck at one level—whether it’s too high or too low—limits your effectiveness. Leaders who can pivot between strategy and execution not only create better solutions but also build stronger, more engaged teams.

So, if you’re ready to elevate your leadership (literally and figuratively), start practicing these skills. Adjusting your altitude doesn’t just make you a better leader—it makes work more fulfilling for you and everyone around you.

Let’s finish strong, together! 

By: cc. Career Coaching