Lead strongly, stay authentic: What really counts in everyday leadership
Lead strongly, stay true: Why reliability is the foundation of good leadership
Today's leaders are under enormous pressure. Speed, complexity, hybrid working models, and rising employee expectations are placing demands on people who often find themselves growing into leadership roles without any real preparation. In the latest episode of "Hope is not a strategy," Christian Underwood talks to coach and author Sascha Dehn about what makes leadership truly effective under these conditions—and why many problems have less to do with methods than with attitude. The conversation is prompted by Sascha Dehn's new book, "30 Success Principles for Young Leaders – Your Path to Effective and Authentic Leadership," in which he brings together key learnings from his own leadership experience and his work as a coach.
Leadership begins with self-reflection
A central theme of the episode is self-reflection. Sascha Dehn openly describes his first leadership role and the mistakes he made at the time—too little clarity, too little communication, too much trust without leadership. Looking back, it is precisely these experiences that have shaped him today and provided the motivation for his book. According to Dehn, leadership always begins with the ability to question one's own behavior: How do I actually come across to others? What do I expect – and what do I actually communicate? Without conscious self-reflection, blind spots arise. Managers overestimate themselves, underestimate their environment, or lose touch with the impact of their actions. The result is misunderstandings, loss of trust, and frustration within the team.
Reliability as an invisible leadership promise
The interview makes it particularly clear why reliability is one of Sascha Dehn's most important leadership principles. Reliability does not mean control or rigidity, but predictability in the best sense of the word. Employees need to know where they stand. Decisions should not change on a daily basis, expectations must be clear, and commitments must be kept—even when it comes to seemingly small things. Using examples from companies and competitive sports, Dehn shows that leadership does not have to be loud or spectacular to be effective. Often, it is the quiet, consistent personalities who build trust and lead teams steadily through challenging phases. Leadership becomes effective when it provides security – not through perfection, but through consistency.
Communication creates clarity—or chaos
Another central theme of the episode is communication. According to Sascha Dehn's observations, many managers avoid clearly formulating expectations because they shy away from conflict or want to be liked. But the opposite is true: unclear communication creates uncertainty, frustration, and ultimately poorer results.
Good leadership means making expectations transparent, listening, and creating space for exchange. Especially when taking on a new leadership role, it is crucial to understand first before shaping. Those who want to change too quickly without listening often lose their team before the actual work begins.
Leadership requires attitude, not heroes
A recurring theme in the episode is the departure from the heroic leader. Managers don't have to do everything themselves, know everything better, or be available around the clock. On the contrary, those who take on tasks and want to control everything take away the team's responsibility and motivation. Leadership means creating conditions in which others can work well. Sascha Dehn describes leadership as a marathon, not a sprint. Consistency, routines, and conscious management of one's own energy are crucial to remaining effective in the long term. His guiding principle, "Lead strongly, stay genuine," sums up this attitude.
For whom this episode is particularly relevant
This podcast episode is aimed at young managers looking for guidance, as well as experienced leaders who want to reflect on their own behavior. It is an honest, practical stimulus for anyone who sees leadership not as a status symbol, but as a responsibility. Those who want to make leadership clearer rather than louder will find plenty of food for thought in this conversation—and the realization that good leadership is rarely spectacular, but always reliable.
🎧Listen now and discover why effective leadership begins with your own attitude.
SHOWNOTES
Sascha Dehn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sascha-dehn-29075182/
Book: "30 Success Principles for Young Managers" https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1076696258
Christian Underwood https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianunderwood/
Episode 96 with Sascha Dehn https://youtu.be/avsDJ-WiCH0
StrategySummit 2026 https://www.strategyframe.ai/strategysummit2026
All links https://linktr.ee/strategyframe