Why So Many Capable Leaders Stall. They’re Using the Wrong Kind of Power.

Most leadership plateaus don’t come from a lack of skill, intelligence, or commitment.They come from using the wrong kind of power for the level of leadership you’re trying to reach.

I’ve worked with leaders who are deeply respected, highly capable, and consistently delivering results, yet they feel stuck. Promotions slow down. Influence stops expanding. The work becomes heavier, not broader.

When this happens, the instinct is usually to do more:

• get another credential

• increase visibility

• take on more responsibility

  
  

But stalling rarely means you need more effort.  It usually means you need a shift in power.

Power Isn’t One Thing, It’s a Pattern

Power shows up differently depending on how you lead.

Some leaders lead by setting the standard, they define expectations, model integrity, and create trust through consistency. Others lead through voice, they shape narratives, influence thinking, and mobilize people through clarity and conviction. Some lead through execution, they turn ideas into outcomes and ensure things actually work. Others lead through design, they build systems, structures, and pathways that allow leadership to scale.

None of these are wrong. The problem arises when a leader relies on one pattern of power for too long.

When Power Doesn’t Evolve, Leadership Stalls

Here’s what I see most often:

• Standard-bearers carrying responsibility without formal authority

• Powerful voices exhausting themselves because everything depends on them speaking

• Operators doing essential work that stays invisible

• Builders holding long-term vision without enough shared ownership

  
  

These leaders aren’t failing. They’re misaligned.

Leadership growth requires evolving how you use power—not abandoning who you are.

The Real Question Leaders Should Be Asking

Instead of asking:

“Why am I not advancing?”

Try asking:

“Is the way I’m using power still serving the level I’m stepping into?”

That question changes everything.

If you want to move from being capable to being catalytic, from respected to resourced, you have to understand the power you lead from—and intentionally develop the power you need next.

That’s the work.

If you’re curious what kind of power you default to and what shift would unlock your next level start with the Power Profile™ assessment.