The Viral Effect of Leadership
💡 Leadership is contagious. The question is: what are you spreading?
Every choice you make as a leader spreads like a virus, whether you see it or not.
Early in my career, parts of my leadership were strong, but other parts quietly infected my team. My intention was to support them, yet there were times when I dismissed ideas, pushed for action without listening, and lacked the self-awareness to see how my reactions were shutting people down.
I told myself the team was disengaged. The uncomfortable truth was this: the problem was not them, it was me.
It took me a while to understand that leadership is never neutral. Our words and actions are viral. They spread through the culture around us, and they either build people up or break them down.
💡 Encouragement spreads confidence.
⚠️ Avoided conversations spread mistrust.
❓ A lack of clarity spreads confusion.
And the higher your position, the faster and farther the virus travels.
Over my years leading Goldray Glass, and now working with leaders through Level 52, I’ve seen both sides:
✅ Leaders who are transparent and consistent create viral trust that strengthens an organization.
⚠️ Leaders who avoid tough conversations spread uncertainty that infects every corner of the business.
Leadership behaviors are contagious. They do not stay contained. They spread. Your people feel the effects, whether they elevate or erode.
👉 What viruses are you spreading today?
This is the first in a series where I’ll share stories, lessons, and tools from my own leadership journey. My hope is that it challenges you to pause, reflect, and maybe even shift how you see your own impact.
Because leadership isn’t about staying immune.
It’s about choosing to spread the viruses that make people and organizations stronger.
#ViralLeadership #InstigatingGrowth #LeadershipImpact #GoldrayGlass #Level52
First Comment:
I’d love to hear your perspective:
What’s one leadership behavior you’ve seen spread quickly through a team or organization?
How did it impact the culture? Was it for better or worse?
Your stories might be exactly what another leader needs to read today.
