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16 posts

Breakthrough starts with better diagnosis

Great leaders don't just lead well, they know exactly where they're stuck

Most leadership advice pushes you to do more: More clarity.More delegation.More velocity. But doing more doesn’t help when you’re solving the wrong problem. You don’t need more output. You need a better diagnosis. Great leaders don’t just lead well. They know exactly where they’re stuck. That’s what makes forward movement possible. It took me months to […]

November 15, 2025·Andrea Michalek
When "focused" still feels too heavy

When "focused" still feels too heavy

You've already said no to most things. So why does the wagon still feel impossible to pull? The Pumpkin Patch Moment I have this photo of my daughter at a pumpkin patch. She's maybe three years old, determinedly pulling a wagon with a few pumpkins in it. Her whole body is leaning into it. She's […]

October 18, 2025·Andrea Michalek
Exceptional teams don't forget to have fun

(Re)discovering joy in leadership

I built my career on grit and strategy. But the biggest breakthroughs came when joy was in the room, and my team actually enjoyed the climb. Early in my leadership journey, I championed 3 principles: That third one? I'd completely lost sight of it. This weekend, reconnecting with old friends reminded me: the best conversations happen […]

September 20, 2025·Andrea Michalek
Leadership is letting go

Being indispensable is a leadership trap

If your team can’t think strategically without you, that is not a compliment. It is a warning sign. This is the essence of what I call The Context Keeper Trap, one of the most common ways capable product leaders unintentionally limit their impact. On the surface, it looks like leadership: you are in every pivotal meeting, […]

September 13, 2025·Andrea Michalek