I have lived and worked in many different contexts. I have stood on big stages, behind the scenes, in boardrooms, and in planning rooms. I have managed festivals, concerts, sports events, and projects involving million-dollar budgets and hundreds of people in motion.
And over time, I have come to one central insight: leadership is not about control – it is about understanding the process and leading with calm.
This insight is not theory from a book, but something I have learned in practice. I have seen the same pattern repeat itself again and again.
The Illusion of Planning: 100%
When we begin planning an event or a project, I often sit in front of the computer with documents, spreadsheets, and timelines. On paper, everything looks perfect. Every minute accounted for, every responsibility defined, every logistic covered. At this point, I would call it 100%.
But I know from experience that this is only the illusion of planning. Reality has yet to begin.
When the Team Steps In: 50%
The next step is to brief the core team. I present the plan, assign responsibilities, and walk through the details. And then something inevitable happens: understanding drops.
What was 100% in my computer is now closer to 50% in the minds of the team. Not because they are less competent, but because information never transfers in full. Everyone interprets. Everyone misses something. Everyone filters through their own perspective.
For an inexperienced leader, this moment can be frustrating. But I know it’s natural. It’s part of the process.
When the Event Starts: 30–40%
Then comes the moment when everything begins. The doors open, the lights go on, the audience arrives, the machinery runs. And here, we’re often down to 30–40% in terms of actual understanding.
Stress, nerves, and unforeseen issues all lower comprehension. Tasks blur, details slip, and confusion arises.
A young leader might panic here. But I do the opposite: I stay calm. Because I know this is exactly what happens every time.
The Climb Back: Hour by Hour
From this low point – 30 or 40% – the real work begins. Hour by hour, decision by decision, conversation by conversation, we start to climb back. Slowly, the team finds its rhythm. They stop just following instructions and begin to see the bigger picture.
It’s like conducting an orchestra. At first, everyone plays hesitantly. But after a few measures, the music takes shape.
My job here is not to run around fixing everything. My job is to carry calm, hold the direction, and create the trust that allows the team to settle and grow into their roles.
The Final Result: 60–70%
By the time everything ends – the lights dim and the audience leaves – we’re usually back at around 60–70%.
And here’s the key: it never returns to 100%. Reality is too complex. Mistakes happen, misunderstandings occur, unexpected changes come.
But 60–70% is not failure. It is success. It means we delivered something real in a messy, imperfect world. And it means the team learned, adapted, and created something unique together.
The Knowledge That Brings Calm
It is precisely this knowledge that makes me a calm leader. I don’t chase a perfect plan. I don’t panic when understanding drops. I don’t fear the fall to 30%.
I know it’s part of the journey. I know we will climb back. And I know the real measure of success is not the percentage, but the growth of the people around me, their collaboration, and their pride in what they accomplished.
Why Experience Matters
This way of seeing leadership is not something you can learn from a manual. It comes from being tested – again and again. It is experience that teaches you to trust the process.
A young leader may see the fall from 100% to 30% as a disaster. An experienced leader sees it as part of the cycle. That difference is everything.
Experience creates stable leaders. Not because they can predict everything, but because they know they can handle whatever comes.
No Longer Needing to Prove Myself
Another gift of experience is that I no longer need to prove myself. I don’t chase applause or recognition. I know what I bring.
When others rush in panic, I can stand still. When misunderstandings create confusion, I can calmly say: “We’ll solve this.” And people believe me because I believe it.
This is leadership that doesn’t grab the spotlight, but holds the room so others can step into it.
The True Task of Leadership
At its core, my leadership is about creating a frame where people can grow. I don’t lead by micromanaging. I lead by creating structure, trust, and stability.
I have often been called a maestro. And I embrace that metaphor. I don’t play every instrument myself. I ensure the music holds together.
And maybe that’s why people remember my leadership – not because I was the loudest, but because I made it possible for them to shine.
Conclusion
For me, leadership is not about perfect results. It is about understanding the process, carrying calm, and leading people from 100% planning, through the fall to 30%, back to a steady 60–70%.
It is this knowledge that makes me stable. It is experience that makes me confident. And it is why I lead the way I do.
Because in the end, it’s not the numbers that matter. It’s the people – and the journey we share.
By Chris...
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