The fastest way to derail a team is to lead on autopilot. Walk into a meeting, speak first, “set direction,” and watch everyone quietly align to your opinion, even when they see a better answer. Step back too far, though, and the same team can feel abandoned, unclear, or unsupported. That tension is exactly where Brad Semmens lives. Brad is the founder of Objective Consulting and Employee Yield, and he brings a rare mix of real-world leadership experience and organizational psychology to a framework he’s developed called the Five Stances of Leadership.
We dig into what it really means to step up, step down, step in, and step back and how those moves create an immediate power dynamic whether we intend it or not. Brad explains leadership through two practical lenses: authority (directive vs distributive) and influence (direct vs indirect). From there, we explore “leading from your center” as the skill that helps you shift from reactive protection to responsive presence, especially when pressure spikes and your default stance kicks in.
One of the biggest takeaways is the difference between filling the space and holding the space. We talk about why some leaders accidentally crowd out ownership by solving too quickly, and how a simple pause plus better questions can unlock psychological safety, clearer thinking, and real accountability. We also get into how strengths can become weaknesses when overused, why complementary styles can either create conflict or balance, and how the “Swiss army knife” leader becomes truly adaptive.
If you want a practical way to build self-awareness, take Brad’s leadership assessment and reflect on your primary and stress stances. Subscribe, share this with a leader who needs a reset, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation.
🌐 Connect with Brad:
• Website: https://objectiveconsulting.com.au/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-semmens-7068254a/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradsemmens/
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