When you’ve been in one place long enough to know who has extra markers lying to borrow, where to get A4 papers during a crisis, and where to find extra chart paper, life feels beautifully predictable. I was there—comfortable, confident, and convinced I had mastered the art of getting things done. And then, as destiny (or my principal) would have it, I was moved to a new responsibility.
Ah, the first month. Let’s just say it was an email-driven illusion of progress. Mails went back and forth like a well-played tennis match, except no one scored. Tasks got lost somewhere between “noted” and “will revert soon.” I comforted myself thinking it was a “transition phase,” which is management-speak for “nothing’s really happening.”
The real awakening came in the second term. One day, I walked past a department display board that looked like it had been designed for kindergarten. My inner self who set high expectations for all gasped. My I could feel my polite self frowning. My leader self was certain this cannot be accepted, my face dropped and I was like- “We can do better than this!” I didn’t shout, but my disappointment must have radiated through the corridor. The next day, the board was magically transformed—gorgeous, creative, and vibrant. Yet, I sensed a chill in the air. They’d done it, yes—but now they were cautious, guarded.
That’s when it hit me: I had done the task, but I hadn’t led it. Ownership is not born out of instruction; it grows from involvement. So, I tried a new approach. Instead of saying, “Do this,” I began asking, “We need this to happen—how can it happen best?” Suddenly, ideas poured in—fresh, practical, and often ten times better than my original suggestion. Turns out, when you trust people with responsibility, they surprise you with brilliance.
I’ve also developed a few essential leadership survival skills along the way: a thick skin (for the days when chaos reigns), a sense of humor (for days when nothing seems to go right), and the patience to let things look messy before they turn magnificent. Because, truly, no masterpiece ever began with a neat table.
My journey has taught me that leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room—it’s about being the one who listens, laughs, and lets others shine. And sometimes, all it takes to things to turn is to take time to say, “What do you think?”
Great leaders don’t give directions—they give direction. They inspire, step back, and watch creativity take the wheel. And as for me—I’m on that journey, learning every day from the very best, one thoughtful step (and a few funny missteps) at a time.
Adeeba Waseem
