A lot of people think getting a management role means they’ll finally have the power to do things their way. They’ve got ideas, they see what’s broken, and they’re sure they’ll fix it once they’re in charge.

But it rarely works that way.

Sure, you might have great ideas, but the moment you try to force them through, you hit roadblocks. You don’t know all the details. You don’t know how people will react. Maybe the money isn’t there. Maybe someone else has a different agenda, and suddenly your plan doesn’t seem so great anymore.

This isn’t just a business thing - it happens everywhere, especially in academia. People love titles. “Group Leader,” “Coordinator,” “Head of Whatever.” They think titles will make their work easier or give them automatic authority. But titles don’t get the work done. People don’t follow titles - they follow a clear vision.

Leadership isn’t about what’s on your nameplate. It’s about guiding people toward a shared goal. It’s about setting clear, simple goals and then being open to how you get there.

Instead of focusing on detailed plans that lock you into one approach, set goals. Make the “why” clear - why are we doing this? What’s the point? Then give deadlines, and leave room for flexibility. Let things evolve. In a fast-changing environment, flexibility wins every time.

And keep in mind: your job isn’t to push your personal ideas at any cost. Your job is to move science forward. Bring motivated people together, make sure they understand the goal, and let the team figure out the best way to get there.

Leadership isn’t about making your vision happen. It’s about making sure everyone’s working toward the same purpose. If the “why” is clear, the “how” will follow naturally.

-- João