Unleash Your Inner Superhero
Leadership Lessons That Fly
Every generation inherits its myths, and ours belongs to the superhero.
For me, superheroes weren’t found first in comic books. They lived in my dad’s arms. Each night he would fly me to bed, soaring me through the air to the tune of Superman. In those moments, gravity gave way to possibility. I felt unstoppable, like I could, as he always told me, do anything I set my mind to.
Now, I find myself passing on that same magic to my aunty-kids. Their eyes widen, their laughter fills the room as I fly them around and play superheroes with them.
I see that same truth in leadership. The best leaders aren’t defined by titles or capes. They’re defined by how they use their power to unlock greatness in others.
Leadership, at its core, is about helping bring out the superhero qualities in those around you.
Here’s how to bring that superhero mindset into leadership today:
1. Build your League
No superhero works alone. The strongest leaders don’t hire replicas of themselves. They build diverse, extraordinary teams that push them further. They are not threatened by brilliance, they amplify it. I like to say an A-grade leader surrounds themselves with an A+ team. True confidence means bringing together your own team of Avengers, people who are strong, capable, and bold in their own right, and learning from them instead of feeling threatened. The best leaders welcome challenge because it drives the team to deliver the best possible results.
2. Know your Powers (and your Kryptonite)
Every superhero evolves, and so do we. Sometimes your strength is vision. Other times it’s building people up or executing under pressure. The key is to recognise that your powers are situational. And your kryptonite? It doesn’t make you weak. Pretending it doesn’t exist does.
That’s why great leaders don’t just compensate for their own limitations, they surround themselves with people whose strengths complement their own. The real advantage isn’t trying to be good at everything. It’s doubling down on your strengths while empowering others to shine where you can’t. That’s where true leadership power lies.
3. Lead with your Origin Story
Every superhero has a backstory that fuels their mission, a defining moment, a scar, or a truth they cannot ignore. In business, too many leaders leave their stories at the door, worried they will be seen as weakness. But it is precisely those stories; the immigrant parent who taught resilience, the child who demanded patience, the hardship that sparked compassion, that give your leadership fire.
The leaders people never forget are the ones who embrace their story fully and lead from it with courage and authenticity.
4. Let your Values be your Symbol
Superheroes wear their symbols with pride because they represent who they are and what they stand for. Great leaders do the same. They don’t get weighed down by business realities; they let their values guide every decision. They see possibility where others see limits, protect their spark of idealism, and inspire their teams to turn bold ideas into reality. Values don’t ignore reality, they shape it.
How to start using your superhero mindset at work today:
Reflect on the strengths that make you feel most alive at work and find ways to lean into them.
Identify one area where you feel less confident and invite someone with complementary skills to collaborate with you.
Celebrate the unique abilities of your team members and give them space to shine.
Share a personal story or lesson that shaped your leadership perspective.
Challenge yourself to think bigger than ‘business as usual’ and pitch one bold idea this week.
Mentor or coach someone who could benefit from your guidance and encouragement.
Remember, even superheroes stumble more than they soar. My father used to tell me, “Fall down seven times, get up eight.” Every time you rise after a setback, you show others it’s possible to rise too, and you give them permission to find their own strength.
The cape is already yours. Use it.
