Shaun Coffey 🚢
@shauncoffey.bsky.social
A student of the practice of leading and managing
Teams with ethical leaders are more open. More trusting. More creative. Mistakes become learning moments. Feedback flows. Innovation grows.
November 13, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Teams with ethical leaders are more open. More trusting. More creative. Mistakes become learning moments. Feedback flows. Innovation grows.
Research Leadership is not leaving the lab; it is expanding it.
It is bringing the scientific method to the art of working with others. The best leaders remain scientists—just of a different experiment.
It is bringing the scientific method to the art of working with others. The best leaders remain scientists—just of a different experiment.
November 13, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Research Leadership is not leaving the lab; it is expanding it.
It is bringing the scientific method to the art of working with others. The best leaders remain scientists—just of a different experiment.
It is bringing the scientific method to the art of working with others. The best leaders remain scientists—just of a different experiment.
When leaders rely on influence – listening, persuading, and setting an example – they not only achieve results, they also empower their teams. In contrast, a leader who only issues orders may get short-term results but will struggle to earn lasting respect or commitment.
November 13, 2025 at 12:33 PM
When leaders rely on influence – listening, persuading, and setting an example – they not only achieve results, they also empower their teams. In contrast, a leader who only issues orders may get short-term results but will struggle to earn lasting respect or commitment.
Until organisations treat leadership as applied inquiry—testing, observing, iterating—scientists will keep struggling to lead.
November 12, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Until organisations treat leadership as applied inquiry—testing, observing, iterating—scientists will keep struggling to lead.
When power is shared, it does not shrink — it grows. Influence multiplies. Politics shift from competition to collaboration.
Empowerment is not soft. It is strong. And it makes everything better.
Empowerment is not soft. It is strong. And it makes everything better.
November 12, 2025 at 9:00 PM
When power is shared, it does not shrink — it grows. Influence multiplies. Politics shift from competition to collaboration.
Empowerment is not soft. It is strong. And it makes everything better.
Empowerment is not soft. It is strong. And it makes everything better.
Culture is the invisible hand guiding what types of influence are acceptable. In a strictly hierarchical culture, employees may defer to formal authority and expect decisions to come from the top.
November 12, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Culture is the invisible hand guiding what types of influence are acceptable. In a strictly hierarchical culture, employees may defer to formal authority and expect decisions to come from the top.
Social astuteness – keen awareness of others’ needs, motives, and agendas; politically skilled people pick up on unspoken dynamics.
November 11, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Social astuteness – keen awareness of others’ needs, motives, and agendas; politically skilled people pick up on unspoken dynamics.
Savvy leaders accept that politics is part of organizational life – the key is navigating it ethically and effectively.
November 10, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Savvy leaders accept that politics is part of organizational life – the key is navigating it ethically and effectively.
People follow people – not positions.
In a world overloaded with authority and hierarchy, the most enduring influence comes from trust, credibility, and care. It is the kind of power no title can grant — but every organization desperately needs.
In a world overloaded with authority and hierarchy, the most enduring influence comes from trust, credibility, and care. It is the kind of power no title can grant — but every organization desperately needs.
November 10, 2025 at 7:56 PM
People follow people – not positions.
In a world overloaded with authority and hierarchy, the most enduring influence comes from trust, credibility, and care. It is the kind of power no title can grant — but every organization desperately needs.
In a world overloaded with authority and hierarchy, the most enduring influence comes from trust, credibility, and care. It is the kind of power no title can grant — but every organization desperately needs.
For practitioners, cultivating expert power means continuous learning and sharing knowledge. It’s a positive form of power that generally earns respect, especially when experts use their know-how to help others rather than hoard information.
November 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
For practitioners, cultivating expert power means continuous learning and sharing knowledge. It’s a positive form of power that generally earns respect, especially when experts use their know-how to help others rather than hoard information.
Coercive power is the flip side of rewards – it’s the ability to influence behaviour by threat of punishment or negative consequences.
It’s the proverbial “stick” in management.
It’s the proverbial “stick” in management.
November 10, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Coercive power is the flip side of rewards – it’s the ability to influence behaviour by threat of punishment or negative consequences.
It’s the proverbial “stick” in management.
It’s the proverbial “stick” in management.
Effective leaders understand that meaningful rewards go beyond money. The key lies in timing, fairness, and alignment with purpose.
November 9, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Effective leaders understand that meaningful rewards go beyond money. The key lies in timing, fairness, and alignment with purpose.
Life is asking for your answer.
Let it hear you say yes.
Let it hear you say yes.
November 9, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Life is asking for your answer.
Let it hear you say yes.
Let it hear you say yes.
Holding a leadership role gives you the right to lead. But if you want real followership, you have to earn it.
The crown may open the door – but only character keeps it open.
The crown may open the door – but only character keeps it open.
November 9, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Holding a leadership role gives you the right to lead. But if you want real followership, you have to earn it.
The crown may open the door – but only character keeps it open.
The crown may open the door – but only character keeps it open.
Effective leaders leverage multiple power bases – not just their formal authority – to motivate and guide teams.
November 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Effective leaders leverage multiple power bases – not just their formal authority – to motivate and guide teams.
As a leader you can choice how much power to exercise and how much to share, depending on circumstances and context.
November 9, 2025 at 6:00 AM
As a leader you can choice how much power to exercise and how much to share, depending on circumstances and context.
Formal authority brings order.
Informal influence brings traction.
True power?
It comes from understanding both.
Informal influence brings traction.
True power?
It comes from understanding both.
November 9, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Formal authority brings order.
Informal influence brings traction.
True power?
It comes from understanding both.
Informal influence brings traction.
True power?
It comes from understanding both.
“Leadership is a serious meddling in the lives of others.” Max De Pree
November 8, 2025 at 11:20 PM
“Leadership is a serious meddling in the lives of others.” Max De Pree
Savvy leaders understand that, beyond official policies, relationships and unwritten norms often drive outcomes.
November 8, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Savvy leaders understand that, beyond official policies, relationships and unwritten norms often drive outcomes.
Resignation, when viewed through the lens of liberation, is not about giving up but about stepping up—taking charge of one’s path and choosing freedom over constraint.
November 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Resignation, when viewed through the lens of liberation, is not about giving up but about stepping up—taking charge of one’s path and choosing freedom over constraint.
When leaders bring purpose, evidence, and simplicity together, credibility grows and uncertainty shrinks. Clarity is strength, and strength inspires belief.
November 3, 2025 at 9:00 AM
When leaders bring purpose, evidence, and simplicity together, credibility grows and uncertainty shrinks. Clarity is strength, and strength inspires belief.
The mind rehearses the future long before the body arrives. Visualisation is not a sporting ritual, it is a leadership discipline. Leaders who train their imagination train their outcomes.
November 3, 2025 at 8:07 AM
The mind rehearses the future long before the body arrives. Visualisation is not a sporting ritual, it is a leadership discipline. Leaders who train their imagination train their outcomes.
Growth mindsets can be a trap
November 3, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Growth mindsets can be a trap