Leadership
Leading Through Change: What Founders Owe Their Teams
Change tests leadership more than growth does. Clarity, candor and consistency are the three things teams look for.
By Darrell W. Levi Sr. · Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Levi Global Strategies LLC
Published October 27, 2026 · 5 min read
When conditions shift, whether through market change, restructuring or rapid growth, people look to leadership for orientation. They are rarely expecting certainty. They are expecting honesty and a sense of direction.
Clarity about what is known and not known
Teams cope better with a plain statement of uncertainty than with reassurance that later proves hollow. Say what has been decided, what is still open, and when more information will be shared.
Candor about trade-offs
Every significant change involves giving something up. Explaining the trade-off, and the reasoning behind it, treats colleagues as capable adults and builds the credibility needed for the next hard decision.
Consistency in how decisions are made
People can live with decisions they dislike if the process is predictable. Publish how decisions will be made and by whom, then follow that process even when it is inconvenient.
These ideas come from a career spanning project finance, international business development and organizational leadership, and they underpin how LGS works with leadership teams. Read more about the firm's leadership, or see how alignment is built in practice.
