The Courage to Unlearn: 5 Leadership Habits You Must Leave Behind

We often think of leadership growth as additive. Learn more. Read more. Do more.

But in my experience—both coaching high-performing executives and walking my own path—the deepest breakthroughs don’t come from what we learn. They come from what we unlearn.

And that takes courage.

Because many of the leadership habits we need to release today… are the very ones that once made us successful. They helped us survive, achieve, climb. But now, in a fast-evolving, human-centered world, they might be getting in our way.

Here are 5 leadership behaviors I see most leaders unlearning:

1. Being the One with All the Answers

In the past, leaders were rewarded for having the solution. But today, leadership isn’t about being the oracle—it’s about being the catalyst. Great leaders ask better questions, hold space for others to shine, and create shared ownership of decisions.

2. Confusing Control with Clarity

Control feels safe—but it often stifles initiative and trust. Modern leadership requires clarity of direction, yes—but also freedom for people to experiment, challenge, and adapt.

3. Operating in Constant Urgency

Busyness is not a badge of leadership. Leading from urgency creates reactive teams. Today’s best leaders create calm, strategic environments that allow teams to focus on what matters most.

4. Valuing Output Over Impact

We used to measure leadership by how much we got done. But more is no longer the goal. Impact, meaning, and alignment are. Leaders must move from “busy” to “intentional.”

5. Saying Yes to Be Liked

People-pleasing may win short-term applause but it erodes trust in the long run. True leadership means making decisions based on values—not on approval.

Here’s the shift:
Modern leadership isn’t just a learning curve. It’s an unlearning journey.

So pause and ask yourself: What behavior helped me succeed in the past… but is now holding me back?

Letting go is hard. But your future as a leader depends on it.

“True leadership begins when you stop performing and start evolving. Growth lives on the other side of unlearning.”

To your success,
Isabel

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Which lesson has impacted you the most? Drop it in the comments!

Isabel Valle is an award-winning Peak Performance Strategist and global leadership coach, dedicated to helping executives and business leaders achieve sustainable success. Through her acclaimed programs like Leadership Reimagined and Lead365, Isabel equips leaders with the tools to foster innovation, build high-performing teams, and thrive in a fast-evolving world.  A sought-after speaker and author, Isabel blends data-driven insights with a human-centered approach to deliver transformative results. Learn more at www.isabelvalle.com.