In leadership circles, “safety” is often confused with compliance checklists, risk matrices, or tight controls.
But the kind of safety that actually fuels performance — the kind that builds trust, inspires innovation, and lifts accountability — doesn’t come from control.
It comes from connection.
And connection is what Connected Leaders cultivate.
It’s easy to hit July and go into overdrive: sprinting toward targets, overcommitting, and letting urgency override clarity.
But here’s the truth backed by science:
The brain loves a fresh start. Research shows we’re more likely to pursue goals after psychological “temporal landmarks”—like the beginning of a quarter or financial year【1】.
The catch? If you don’t intentionally reset, your brain defaults to old patterns.
That’s where Connected Leadership comes in.
In leadership, we’re wired to look ahead. To the next deadline. The next deliverable. The next fire to put out.
But what happens when we don’t look back—even briefly?
We miss the quiet power of progress.
I remember the exact moment. I was standing in front of the mirror, getting ready for another leadership meeting, another presentation, another day of doing the work I was known for. I had the title. The trust of a national team. A track record that spoke for itself. From the outside, everything looked like it
I used to be an amazing sandcastle builder—it was my craft, my career, my passion. Then came the day when they said, “You’re great at building sandcastles. We want you to manage other sandcastle builders.” Excited yet anxious, I wondered: Would they listen to me? How could I oversee their work alongside my own? I
Creating a good relationship with your manager is essential. Doing so reduces stress, makes work more enjoyable, and sets everyone up for success. Managing up is a great way to improve your relationship, but what do we mean by “managing up” and why does it make such an important difference? Managing up is about reciprocity.