7 Steps to Creating Sticky Leadership Success

This month marks a major milestone for The People Dividend Podcast—our 200th episode hit on July 1! It’s an honor to celebrate this achievement with all of you who have supported the show and joined these rich conversations about leadership, authenticity, and organizational growth. July also kicks off an exciting new chapter with Season 8, featuring a stellar lineup of guests who promise to inspire and challenge. This blog, much like the podcast itself, reflects both my perspectives and key insights from thought leaders like Andy Goram. Together, we explore what it takes to make leadership truly stick.

Leadership is most effective when its impact lingers—when it sticks. But what does "stickiness" in leadership really mean? At its core, it’s about leaving a lasting, positive impression on your team, one that fosters trust, engagement, and excellence. A sticky leader inspires others to follow not just because of their title, but because of their authenticity and ability to connect on a meaningful level. Here's how you can cultivate leadership that sticks.

1. Define "Stickiness" in Leadership

Sticky leadership begins with clarity. It’s the quality of making your vision, values, and actions memorable to those you lead. Imagine a leader whose principles and practices still shape the team long after they've moved on. That’s stickiness. It’s the glue that binds teams to shared goals and strengthens morale, even during challenges.

2. Key Lessons from Andy Goram

Andy Goram’s approach to stickiness emphasizes the importance of being both memorable and accessible. He suggests that effective leadership doesn’t come from grand gestures but from consistent, meaningful actions. By focusing on simplicity and relatability, leaders can create interactions and strategies that resonate deeply with people. This complements my own belief that leadership is about fostering genuine connection—a value I frequently explore in my work.

3. Build Trust Through Authenticity

Trust is the foundation of sticky leadership. A leader’s authenticity—showing up as their true, honest selves—encourages team members to do the same. People don’t connect with perfection; they connect with integrity. When leaders are transparent about challenges, celebrate wins, and model vulnerability, they create a culture where others feel safe and valued.

4. Highlight the Power of Connection

Sticky leadership thrives on meaningful relationships. Get to know your team members on a personal level. Understand what motivates them, their pain points, and their aspirations. Regular one-on-ones, open feedback channels, and visible support reinforce these connections. When people feel seen and understood, they’re more likely to commit fully to the organization and its goals.

5. Simple Techniques to Boost Stickiness

Bringing your leadership closer to people’s daily lives is an immediate way to strengthen its stickiness. Try these strategies:

• Share stories that illustrate key leadership lessons. Stories are both relatable and memorable.
• Use repetition to reinforce values and messages, so they become part of your organization’s DNA.
• Focus on small but impactful actions, like handwritten notes of appreciation or public recognition of hard work.

6. Measure Your Leadership Impact

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. To assess your leadership's stickiness, solicit feedback from your team. Create opportunities for open and honest communication, and ask specific questions about your influence on their work and morale. Metrics like employee engagement, retention, and productivity trends also paint a picture of your effectiveness.

7. Sustain Leadership That Sticks

Sustainability in leadership means building practices and systems that outlast you. Share your knowledge, mentor future leaders, and create frameworks that others can build on. What’s important is to align your goals with long-term organizational health rather than short-term wins. When you invest in people, you amplify the ripple effects of your leadership.

Final Thoughts

Sticky leadership doesn’t happen by accident. It’s cultivated through intentional actions, authentic connections, and a commitment to leaving things better than you found them. By adopting these principles, you can lead in a way that’s not only memorable but life-changing for your team and enduring for your organization.

Are you ready to make your leadership stick? Reach out to explore how we can work together to ensure your impact resonates far beyond the here and now.

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If you enjoyed this article, be sure to check out The People Dividend Podcast at https://www.mike-horne.com/podcast. The podcast dives deep into leadership, authenticity, and organizational development with engaging conversations and expert insights. For more leadership insights, subscribe to my LinkedIn Newsletter where I share weekly reflections and strategies to help you grow as a leader. Don’t miss out—explore the episodes and join the conversation today!