What Game Are You Playing as a Leader?
Change Your Game, Change Your Culture (And Your Results)
Many leaders are playing the wrong game without even realizing it.
They think they're playing "lead better," but they're actually playing:
- "Put out fires fast"
- "Solve everything myself"
- "Keep my team happy"
And when you're playing a different game, results don't show up, no matter how many hours you put in.
The Question Every Smart Leader Should Ask Themselves
What game are you playing as a leader today?
And is it the right game for your team and for you?
Some leaders play the ambition game, others play stability, some play for impact, and others are just playing to survive.
The uncomfortable truth: your team always feels what game you're playing, even if you never say it out loud.
The Real Power Move Isn't Being the Best. It's Choosing the Right Game.
If your role is to lead teams that grow, your game should prioritize:
- Clarity over speed
- Autonomy over control
- Progress over perfection
- Results over activity
- Learning over ego
Change your game, change your culture.
And when culture shifts, the way your team works, decides, and grows transforms too.
Creator Worth Following: Shane Parrish (Farnam Street)
If you want leadership without the fluff, Shane Parrish is one of the sharpest voices out there.
He doesn't talk about inspiration. He talks about thinking better.
And a leader who thinks better, leads better.
Why This Creator Matters for Your Leadership
- You make decisions with less mental noise
- You spot when you're reacting versus when you're leading
- You see your blind spots as a manager and as a person
- You save months of trial and error
His content is practical, clear, and timeless—perfect for leaders who want to improve without the BS.
This Week's Leadership Exercise: The One-Millimeter Shift
Pick one single micro-decision you make automatically with your team every day.
Just one.
Examples
- How you respond when someone asks you a question
- What you do when you spot a mistake
- How you kick off meetings
- How much information you need before you trust someone
Now Ask Yourself
- What story does this decision reinforce?
Examples: "If I don't review it, it'll go wrong" / "If I don't control it, nothing happens". - Is this the kind of leader I want to be?
- Where's my one-millimeter shift?
What Does a One-Millimeter Leadership Shift Look Like?
- From "why did you do it that way?" to "walk me through what led you to that decision"
- From chaotic stand-ups to "what's the one blocker we need to unblock today?"
The millimeter won't hurt, but it's just uncomfortable enough to snap you out of autopilot.
And when you shift one millimeter a day, your entire way of leading changes for real.