“When you lead from a place of grounded lightness, you create more space for others to rise.”
— Catherine Ducharme
For many leaders, the weight of responsibility is a familiar companion.
We pride ourselves on being the ones who step up, stay late, carry more.
But somewhere along the way, that weight becomes something else: Exhaustion. Resentment. Disconnection.
Recently, I shared a little manifesto called The Art of Leading Lightly, a reminder that leadership doesn’t have to feel so heavy. But a reminder is only the beginning.
How do we actually practice leading lightly?
How do we stay present, connected, and effective without getting pulled under by the constant demands?
In this article, I elaborate on the five Tiny Shifts with Big Impact highlighted in the manifesto. Here they are, the five powerful shifts you can make to lighten your leadership load starting today.
1. Pause Before you Plunge
It’s tempting to dive straight into solving, fixing, and responding. But every time you pause, even for a breath, you give yourself the gift of presence. That pause can be the difference between reacting and responding with clarity.
Practice: Before you reply to that urgent email or jump into problem-solving mode, ask:
“What’s really needed here?” Often, it’s less than you think.
2. Let Go of Fixing. Lean into Curiosity
As leaders, we’re wired to help. But fixing everything robs others of growth. Curiosity invites ownership. It also takes the weight off your shoulders.
Practice: Swap “Here’s what you should do…” with: “What’s your take on this?”
You’ll be surprised how often the answers are already in the room.
3. Boundaries are Acts of Service
Saying “no” or “not now” isn’t shutting people out. It’s making sure you can show up fully when it matters. Boundaries protect your energy and model healthy leadership for your team.
Practice: Try this reframing: “To give this my best attention, I’ll need to schedule it for [timeframe].”
It’s not about being unavailable. It’s about being intentional.
4. Choose PRogress Over Perfection
Perfection is heavy. It slows you down, keeps you second-guessing. Progress, on the other hand, builds momentum.
Practice: When perfectionism creeps in, ask: “What does ‘good enough to move forward’ look like right now?”
Then, let it be enough.
5. Connect to Lead
Influence doesn’t come from control. It comes from connection. People follow people who see them, hear them and value them.
Practice: In your next meeting, shift from “What do we need to get done?” to:
“How are we doing as a team today?”
That human check-in creates alignment faster than any agenda item.
Wrap-Up Reflection
Leading lightly isn’t about doing less. It’s about leading from a place of clarity, presence, and connection, without carrying what isn’t yours.
Which of these light touches speaks to you the most right now?
What might get lighter if you practiced even one of them this week?
PS: If you missed The Art of Leading Lightly Mini Manifesto, you can download it here.
