We often talk about the challenge leaders face when leading people who are different from them; different generations, backgrounds, communication styles, experiences and perspectives.
But Stephanie Chung flips that conversation around:
In this article, you’ll learn:
- What leaders can do when a team has never been led by someone like them before
- How recognizing differences in background, generation, culture and communication style can help build stronger trust and connection
- Why Stephanie Chung sees our differences—not our similarities—as an opportunity to learn, grow and lead more effectively
- What happens when the leader is the person the team has never experienced before?
Throughout her career in the male-dominated aviation industry, Stephanie frequently stepped into leadership roles where the person before her looked, communicated and led differently than she did. She wasn’t simply learning how to lead people who were “not like me.” Her teams were also learning how to be led by someone not like them.
That distinction matters.
A team may be adjusting to its first female leader, a leader from another generation or culture, someone with a dramatically different communication style—or simply someone who approaches leadership in a way they’ve never experienced.
The responsibility goes both ways. Great leaders need to understand the people they’re leading, but they also need to recognize that their teams may be learning how to understand them.
That’s another dimension of Stephanie’s “Not Like Me” philosophy: difference isn’t something we need to eliminate. It’s something we need to understand, communicate through and ultimately use to make our teams stronger.
Because sometimes you’re leading people who are not like you.
And sometimes you’re the “Not Like Me.”
About Stephanie Chung
Stephanie Chung is an executive leadership and sales keynote speaker, #1 international bestselling author, and former Chief Growth Officer of Wheels Up. Drawing on more than 30 years of business and leadership experience, Stephanie helps leaders better communicate, build trust, and get results from people who think, work and communicate differently.
Stephanie is managed by Eagles Talent Speakers Management. For keynote speaking fees, availability, videos and booking information, visit Stephanie Chung’s speaker profile.
