Leading Like a Swan
Last updated February 28, 2026.
I’ve been thinking about a leadership metaphor I really like lately: leading like a swan.
On the surface, a swan looks calm and steady, gliding smoothly across the water. Beneath the surface, its feet are paddling hard. The effort is real. The motion is constant. But the experience it creates for everyone watching is stability.
Leaders who act panicky can unintentionally transmit panic. Emotions are contagious, especially from those in visible roles. When things are uncertain, complex, or under pressure, people look to leaders for cues on how to interpret what’s happening.
Leading like a swan doesn’t mean pretending things aren’t hard. It means doing the hard processing, problem-solving, and scenario planning, while projecting steadiness and clarity to the team. It means absorbing volatility instead of amplifying it.
This isn’t just a management skill, it’s a leadership trait. Anyone can pass stress downstream. Leaders contain it. They create psychological safety by modeling composure, even when the work underneath is intense.
In times of change or stress, calm isn’t denial, it’s discipline.
A question for other leaders
How do you model steadiness for your team when the work underneath is intense?