The Difference Between Good and Great Leadership? One Word: Attunement
- Liza Engel
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
In uncertain times, people don’t need more noise. They need leaders who are in tune with the moment, their people, and the purpose that guides them all.
That level of leadership doesn’t come from charisma or control. It comes from discernment.
The best leaders aren’t those who always have the correct answers. They’re the ones who ask the right questions—at the right time—to uncover what’s truly needed.
A Quiet Lesson in Leadership
During intense organizational change, I believed my team needed space. We were navigating upheaval, and I wanted to ease the pressure, so I stepped back.
But the silence that followed wasn’t peaceful—it was ambiguous. Slowly, the questions stopped. The collaboration faded. I thought everything was fine. It wasn’t.
That’s when I shifted. I leaned back in, not with solutions, but with curiosity. What do you need from me right now? Where are we stuck?
I celebrated every voice that dared to answer.
Suddenly, the fog lifted. Clarity replaced confusion. What they needed wasn’t space—it was presence. Direction. Reassurance. I had assumed what I should have asked.
That moment taught me that leadership is less about what you say and more about your sense. Your presence is your signal, and your attunement is your superpower.
The Core Insight
Great leaders are like seasoned surfers—they don’t control the ocean but know how to read the waves and catch the right moment to move.
Good leaders follow a plan. Great leaders read the room and know how to adapt the plan.
They adapt to the moment's needs—not by guessing but by staying attuned to cues, emotions, and feedback. They flex between strength and softness, clarity and curiosity, urgency and patience.
That is the discipline of attuned leadership. And it builds connection, trust, and momentum.
5 Questions to Lead with Attunement
Here are five questions to help you shift from autopilot into alignment—especially during disruption or complexity:
What does this moment require—clarity or curiosity? Knowing when to guide and when to explore is the key to adaptive leadership. Before you speak, ask yourself: is this a time to direct or to discover?
Am I acting from urgency or intention? Reactivity erodes trust. Intention builds it. Pause. Name your goal. Lead from there.
Am I asking—or assuming? Silent assumptions create blind spots. Ask an open-ended question before offering advice.
How does my presence feel to others—safe or uncertain? People don’t just hear you—they think you. Check your tone, pace, and energy. Are you amplifying calm or confusion?
Am I rooted in purpose—or chasing visibility? Leaders who stay anchored inspire others to do the same. Reconnect to your ‘why’ before each major decision.
Simple Actions for Attuned Leadership
Open with inquiry. In your next team meeting, skip the agenda for a moment. Ask: What’s one thing we’re not discussing that we should be?
Pause before you speak. Silence isn’t awkward—it’s clarifying. Give people space to respond, and you’ll hear more.
Debrief with intention. After any interaction, reflect: Did I listen enough? Did I sense what was needed?
Ground in your why. Begin each day by asking: What is the deeper purpose behind what I’m doing today?
Final Reflection
You don’t need to be everything to everyone in every moment. But you should be attuned to what your team, clients, and stakeholders need now. In this moment.
That means stepping forward, and sometimes, stepping back, but always with awareness.
If this landed with you, what did you sense differently after reading this? What will you try in your next meeting, pitch, or discussion?
The best leaders aren’t just skilled; they’re present, deeply human, and deeply connected.
Attunement. Let’s lead like that.
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