Leadership. For many of us, the word itself feels heavy. It conjures images of authority, responsibility, and sometimes isolation. If you’ve ever felt reluctant to step into leadership because it seems too overwhelming—or because you care too deeply—you’re not alone.

But what if leadership isn’t about power or control?

What if it’s about something far more alive, collaborative, and soulful?

What if being a leader means being a culture creator?

For those of us who care deeply about others, stepping into leadership often feels like stepping into a storm. We see the dysfunction in systems around us—workplaces, families, even entire cultures—and our hearts ache to make things better. But caring this deeply can also feel like a burden.

What if I can’t make things better?

What if I fail the people who trust me?

What if it all falls apart and it’s my fault?

These fears are valid. But they also come from a misunderstanding of what leadership truly is.

Leadership doesn’t have to be about carrying the entire weight on your shoulders. In fact, it works best when it isn’t. Instead, leadership can be about tending to the space, shaping the culture where others feel safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.

This is what it means to be a culture creator.

A culture creator doesn’t try to control every outcome. They don’t have all the answers. Instead, they focus on:

- Setting the tone - Creating an environment of respect, care, and shared purpose.

- Holding space - Allowing others to show up as their full selves.

- Guiding the values - Ensuring the group’s actions align with its deeper principles.

Culture creation shifts the focus from you as the sole leader to the collective energy of the group. It’s less about authority and more about collaboration.

If you feel reluctant to lead, ask yourself:

What kind of culture do I long to be part of?

Your soul might already be nudging you to create the kind of space you’ve always wished existed — a space where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to be their best.

This is the quiet call of culture creation. It’s not about chasing titles or accolades. It’s about nurturing environments where everyone, including you, can thrive.

By reframing leadership as culture creation, the burden shifts. You’re no longer responsible for fixing everything or having all the answers. Instead, your role is to guide the energy, values, and dynamics of the group.

You’re tending to the space, not trying to control it.

And in that space, others rise. They step into their own power. They bring their unique gifts to the group. Together, you co-create something far greater than one person could achieve alone.

By reframing leadership as culture creation, the burden shifts. You’re no longer responsible for fixing everything or having all the answers. Instead, your role is to guide the energy, values, and dynamics of the group.

You’re tending to the space, not trying to control it.

And in that space, others rise. They step into their own power. They bring their unique gifts to the group. Together, you co-create something far greater than one person could achieve alone.

I wrote this blog with ChatGPT after much back and forth about frustrations I felt and my own reluctance to step into a leadership role. One day the phrase "culture creator" popped into my head and it felt so right. So this post is as much a reminder for me as anyone feeling this inner tension too.

After drafting this blog post, a book on my bookshelf caught my eye - "The Culture Code - The Secrets of Highly Sucessful Groups" by Daniel Coyle. He explores huge teams like Pixar, US Navy SEALS and Google.
On some level, I must've remembered the first line of the book and my subconscious brought up the "culture creator" idea.

Here's that first line:

"CULTURE: from the Latin cultus, which means care."