Bold Leadership and Strategic Moves That Matter
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Biana Lerman
Co-Founder of Your HubSpot Expert
When I look back at this year, the boldest move I made wasn’t a big public launch or a dramatic pivot. It was quieter than that: We stopped saying “yes” to work that didn’t fit who we are or how we do our best work.
That meant turning down projects that weren’t aligned with our strengths, restructuring offers that looked good on paper but drained our capacity, and being honest with clients about what we could really do well. It meant choosing depth over volume.
The biggest lesson? Bold doesn’t always mean loud. Sometimes the bravest move is to stop tolerating what’s “fine” but not right.
Once we did that, a few things happened:
Our delivery got sharper and more consistent.
The team had more energy and less quiet resentment.
The right kind of clients started finding us and stayed.
The work became more meaningful, and the business still grew. That reinforced something I’ll carry forward: growth that costs you your integrity, your health, or your team’s trust is not actual growth. It’s a very expensive illusion.
How I Handle Fear With High-Stakes Decisions
I’m not fearless, and I don’t pretend to be. Big decisions still wake up the “What if I screw this up?” voice.
Here’s how I work with that fear instead of letting it run the show:
1. I gut-check the decision.
If everything looks good on a spreadsheet but feels heavy, forced, or off, I pause. If it’s scary and energizing, that’s usually a sign I’m on the right track.
2. I name the worst-case scenario.
Fear grows in vagueness. I ask: “What exactly am I afraid will happen?” If I can survive it and course-correct, then it’s a risk I can probably take.
3. I separate instinct from insecurity.
Sometimes fear is my intuition waving a red flag. Sometimes it’s just imposter syndrome. I sit with it long enough to tell the difference.
4. I decide before I overthink it to death.
There’s a point where more analysis is just avoidance. Bold moves rarely survive endless second-guessing.
To me, fear is not a stop sign. It’s a spotlight. It shows me where I’m stretching and where I need more clarity.
My #1 Leadership Principle for 2026
Clarity over everything.
Clear goals. Clear roles. Clear priorities. Clear “yes” and clear “no.”
Most of the problems I see in teams come down to unclear expectations and unspoken assumptions. People end up working hard in different and sometimes wrong directions.
So my principle for 2026 is this: If something feels vague, I slow down and clarify.
If my team is unclear, we fix that before we chase another target.
Clarity is bold because it forces you to choose. It is kind because it removes guessing and it scales because people can finally own their work.
If this year taught me anything, it’s that bold leadership isn’t about constant disruption. It’s about making honest, aligned decisions and then communicating them clearly enough that everyone knows how to move forward.
Connect With Biana
Comments