Leadership in Different Environments

Have you ever noticed how leadership can look completely different from one type of

environment to another?

Leadership displays unique characteristics between different settings. The hospital faculty

meeting, tech team brainstorming session, and art workshop present distinct leadership

development opportunities that share common valuable lessons.

Research on leadership during recent times demonstrates that context plays an equal role

to skills. I examined three qualitative studies on leadership development across various

environments to reveal valuable lessons for everyone.

Lesson 1: Leadership is Stronger When It’s Shared

Academic medicine research shows early-career underrepresented minority (URiM) faculty

members develop leadership skills through collaborative scholarship and mentorship

rather than traditional formal titles. The participants openly discussed their challenges

which included time limitations and insufficient support and ambiguous career progression.

(Campbell et al., 2024).

Takeaway: Leaders achieve success in academic settings and their own workplaces through

networks and shared projects instead of working independently.

Lesson 2: The Best Leaders Fit the Team’s Identity

Swedish research on agile software teams discovered an interesting fact. The most

successful leaders were not always the ones who held formal leadership positions; instead,

leadership emerged organically from within the team when a person's values, skills, and

style reflected the group's identity (Hällgren et al., 2024).

Takeaway: Your influence in fast-moving environments depends more on your ability to

connect with your team's culture rather than your position in the organization.

Lesson 3: Creativity Approach Through Methodology

The third study adopted a creative approach through its methodology. The researchers

examined numerous art-based leadership development programs which included painting

and music as well as drama and dance. The results? The artistic experiences led to enhanced

self-reflection and emotional intelligence and empathy development among participants

(Sandberg, 2024).

Takeaway: Leaders who want to develop their skills should avoid conventional training

methods. Creative experiences help you develop new perspectives while deepening your

relationships with others.

The Big Picture

The three studies revealed that leadership development follows unique paths for each

individual. Leadership growth depends on relationships and self-reflection and requires

understanding of the specific environment you operate in.

- Build networks and share leadership responsibilities.

- Align your style with your team’s shared values.

- Explore creative, reflective activities to grow your emotional intelligence.

These lessons will help you lead with authenticity and impact no matter where you lead

whether it is in a boardroom, a classroom or a community group.

Your Thoughts

What’s one way you could bring more collaboration, cultural alignment, or creativity into

your leadership this month? Share your thoughts in the comments — I’d love to hear your

ideas.

References

Campbell, K. M., Rodríguez, J. E., Baker, A., & Taylor, T. (2024). Perceptions of Leadership Through Scholarship: URiM Early-Career Faculty in Academic Medicine. *Family Medicine*, 56(3), 123–131. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/fammed.2024.12345

Hällgren, M., Eriksson, A., & Svensson, J. (2024). Prototypical Leadership in Agile Software Development Teams: A Qualitative Study. *Behavioral Sciences*, 14(8), 714.

https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14080714

Sandberg, B. (2024). Outcomes of Art-Based Leadership Development: A Qualitative

Metasummary. *Behavioral Sciences*, 14(8), 714. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14080714