Leadership Shows Before You Speak
A few days ago, I found myself deeply reflecting on what leadership truly looks like long before a title, long before a boardroom, long before a strategic conversation. I was recruiting for a senior leadership role on behalf of a client, expecting to meet individuals who understood the weight of responsibility that such a position carries.
Then a candidate reached out, expressing strong interest in the role. I opened their CV and immediately paused. It was outdated. It did not speak to the requirements of the role. It did not mirror the responsibilities clearly outlined in the job description. It felt like a quick submission, not a thoughtful representation of someone aspiring to lead.
Out of courtesy, I pointed it out. When the candidate sent back a revised version, it told an even louder story it had been updated in a rush, still misaligned, still lacking intentionality. Shortly after, another candidate repeated the same pattern.
And as I reviewed these documents, something settled in my mind: leadership reveals itself much earlier than we think. Long before we meet the person, long before they introduce themselves, long before they outline their vision, their habits have already spoken.
What struck me the most was the disconnect. How does someone hope to drive clarity in an organisation if they cannot first demonstrate it in their own presentation?
- How do you guide teams with precision when the basic act of aligning your CV to a role feels hurried and careless?
- How does one mentor others when intentionality is missing in the first step of showing up?
Leadership is not just a position it is a discipline. It is expressed in the details:
how we prepare, how we read, how we think, how we respond, how we take ownership. These small habits reflect our internal governance long before we ever speak a word.
As I reflected on those CVs, I realised something deeper. Many costly leadership mistakes are born from the same root: the failure to pause. We rush. We assume. We skim. We overlook. We hope that something will work without giving it the clarity it deserves. But leadership is never built on rushing. Strategy is never strengthened by assumption. And excellence is never achieved by shortcuts.
So before applying for any senior role, before stepping into the room that holds your next opportunity, it’s worth asking yourself: If someone measured my leadership purely through how I present myself would they see clarity, responsibility, maturity, and intention? Or would they see haste, carelessness, and unpreparedness?
Your leadership speaks long before you do. And sometimes, the quietest document your CV reveals the loudest leadership story.