You Can’t Lead People Who Don’t Want to Be Led

No matter how brilliant your vision or strategy, leadership is a two-way street. If people aren’t open to being led, you can’t force it without draining your energy, losing momentum, or burning out. The sooner you accept this, the sooner you can focus on leading where it truly matters.

Leadership is about willing followers

Take Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, as an example. When he stepped into the role, Microsoft was stuck in a culture of internal competition and stagnation. Nadella didn’t try to force change from the top down. Instead, he focused on creating a culture where employees wanted to be part of his vision.

He nurtured a growth mindset, shifted company values, and inspired those who were ready to embrace change. For those who resisted? They either adapted or eventually left. Nadella didn’t waste time chasing holdouts. He understood that leadership is about cultivating willing followers, not coercing compliance.

Or consider Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist who has inspired millions around the world. Greta didn’t try to convince everyone to join her fight against climate change. Instead, she focused on rallying those who shared her urgency and vision for a sustainable future. Her leadership thrives because she speaks directly to those who are ready to act, empowering them to take a stand and amplify her message.

Greta’s Fridays for Future movement is a testament to the power of focusing on willing followers. By channelling her energy into those who are aligned with her mission, she has built a global movement that continues to grow.

The lesson here? Great leaders don’t try to lead everyone. They focus on those who are ready to follow.

Why some people resist leadership

Resistance to leadership can stem from many places: clashing values, fear of change, or simply a lack of readiness. And that’s okay. Trying to win over everyone is a losing game. It dilutes your message, drains your energy, and ultimately leads to frustration and burnout.

Even Nadella’s transformation at Microsoft wasn’t an overnight success. It took years to shift the company’s mindset, and not everyone was on board. But instead of chasing every sceptic, he focused on empowering the core team that believed in his vision. That focus created the momentum Microsoft needed to innovate and thrive again.

The truth is that some people will never align with your leadership and that’s not a reflection of your ability. It’s a reflection of their readiness.

How to lead those who want to be led

So, how do you apply this in your own leadership? Here are four key principles:

Leadership isn’t about popularity

At the end of the day, leadership isn’t about being liked by everyone. It’s about making an impact with the people who believe in your vision. When you stop trying to lead those who don’t want to be led, you free yourself to lead boldly, authentically, and effectively.

So, let go of the exhausting need to win over everyone. Focus on your tribe, build momentum, and lead with purpose. The right people will follow and that’s all you need to create meaningful change.