437: How to lead yourself before leading others - with Riunita Martin

Picture this: You get promoted. Suddenly, you're responsible for a team.

The decisions come faster. The expectations get bigger. And people want answers... even when you're still figuring things out yourself.

You might not have received much training on how to lead people.

But before you look for a quick fix, my guest today says there's another question that deserves your attention:

Who are you becoming as a leader?

You say you value honesty, but what happens when telling the truth might upset your boss?

You want your team to speak up, but how do you respond when someone challenges you?

Those moments tell people whether they can trust you.

Her book, Build the Leader. Transform the Trajectory., challenges "the leadership lie." The belief that becoming a better leader is simply about acquiring more skills, knowledge, or frameworks.

Because pressure doesn't create character. It reveals it.

Becoming a leader people trust starts with taking a good, honest look at yourself first.

• Start with who you're becoming. Why leadership development needs to go deeper than learning another skill or framework.

• Define what you stand for. How to clarify your identity, core values, and non-negotiable standards... and what conviction looks like when those standards are tested.

• Look at your values in practice. What moral leadership means and how to recognize when organizational pressure is pulling you away from your principles.

• Uncover your blind spots. How to use assessments and reflection exercises to examine the gap between the leader you intend to be and how you're actually showing up.

• Turn awareness into action. What a practical growth plan should include to help you make real, sustainable changes.

Whether you've just stepped into management or have been leading people for years, this conversation invites you to consider a deeper question: Are your everyday decisions building the trust you want your team to have in you?

Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/437-how-to-lead-yourself-before-leading-others---with-riunita-martin