Leadership Without Clarity: Insights from Working on Purpose
When Leaders Think They're Collaborative But Aren't
In this Working on Purpose conversation with Dr. Alise Cortez, Pete explores a challenge many leaders face without realizing it: the inner fog of blind spots.
"The bigger challenge I have is the leaders who think they're this place when they're really back here," Pete explains. "They believe they're collaborative, but in their mind they're just having people agree to them."
Pete shares the story of Rebecca, featured in this book Into the Fog, who courageously spoke up in a leadership session at a healthcare company after a gentleman yelled an expletive. Her authenticity about being overlooked until men repeated her ideas opened the door for others to speak. "It didn't change the culture on that day, but it changed the direction of the culture on that day."
Letting Go Without Helicoptering
When Dr. Cortez asks about what keeps leaders from letting go, Pete reframes the challenge: "If I let go and yet I don't grab something new, I end up being that hovering parent, that helicopter manager." The solution is finding the next rung—a new skill, strategic focus, or area of development.
Pete closes with a reminder: "Technology is a massive fog generator. AI specifically today is an incredible fog navigator, but also fog generator. It's not about the wave or the technology. It's how we're showing up in the mindset we are to address it."
After three decades guiding leaders through uncertainty, Pete's message is clear: "Leadership doesn't begin with clarity. It begins with courage and the choice to step in even when it's not clear."
Watch the full interview
Pete Behrens | Leadership Insights
Book Pete Behrens for Your Next Event
Pete is available for leadership conferences, executive forums, corporate events, and leadership offsites worldwide. He and his team work with you to build something specific to your audience — not a generic talk pulled from a shelf. Curious whether he's the right fit? Let's talk.
