Welcome back to Cardcast! Today, we’re going to be talking about The Art of Leadership.
What makes YOU a great leader?
Just the other day, I found myself speaking to a sharp group of business students at McGill University—future CEOs, founders, and innovators in the making.
Somewhere between the talk of frameworks and execution, I kept coming back to two thinkers who’ve shaped my own view of leadership: Patrick Lencioni and Jim Collins. And Collins’ definition—one I first heard at his workshop not long ago—has stayed with me ever since:
“Leadership is the art of getting people to want to do what must be done.”
Leadership isn’t about command or compliance—it’s about inspiration. It’s about creating an environment where people want to act, not because they have to, but because they’re drawn to a shared vision. And like any true art form, leadership can’t be copied. As Collins puts it, if you’re simply imitating someone else’s style, that’s not art—it’s replication.
Every leader carries a unique “encoding,” a blend of strengths, instincts, and quirks that make their leadership distinctly theirs. The work, then, isn’t about trying to become the next Richard, Steve, or Elon—it’s about becoming more of you.
Self-awareness isn’t a luxury in leadership; it’s the foundation. The more you understand your own wiring, the better you can shape an environment where others thrive.
Key-Card points:
Leadership is an art, not a formula
The goal is to inspire, not instruct
Knowing when to stop is part of the art
Focus on amplifying strengths, not fixing weaknesses
Links & Resources
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CardCast is produced by Lovemore Media.
