People First: Rethinking Leadership with Natasha Hendrick
Last night, our AdaMarie Career Accelerator cohort gathered for a transformative session led by Natasha Hendrick, Development Geoscience Manager and Principal Geophysicist at Santos, on Leadership & Thriving in Teams.
Natasha challenged us to rethink leadership, not as a title reserved for managers or executives, but as a daily practice of showing up with courage, building trust, and creating space for others to succeed.
Here’s what we learned…
Leadership is About People, Not Titles
Leadership isn’t granted by hierarchy. It’s earned through how you show up. Natasha emphasized that anyone, regardless of role, can influence a team by modeling trust, vulnerability, and care.
One of her central truths: “The hardest lesson I’ve ever learned is the people before the task.” Productivity doesn’t come from pushing harder on deadlines—it comes from investing in the humans doing the work.
Try this: Before you dive into your to-do list, check in with the people around you. Ask how they’re doing, and really listen. Leadership starts with cultivating sincere relationships.
Understanding Yourself and Adapting to Others
Self-awareness is the anchor of effective leadership. Natasha encouraged participants to revisit personality assessments multiple times throughout their careers. Why? Because people evolve. Your strengths and blind spots shift as you gain new experiences.
But leadership isn’t just about knowing yourself. It’s also about reading the room. Some teammates need detailed direction, others thrive with autonomy. Great leaders flex their style—and earn trust—by meeting people where they are.
Ask yourself: How might your default communication style be perceived differently by different people on your team?
Building Psychological Safety
A team cannot thrive if its members don’t feel safe speaking up, sharing half-baked ideas, or admitting mistakes. Natasha reminded us that leaders create psychological safety through simple, intentional behaviors: curiosity without judgment, modeling vulnerability, and acknowledging contributions openly.
No two teams look alike, and different personalities gravitate to different roles. Over time, the goal is not uniformity but connection.
Leadership move: In your next meeting, take note of who hasn’t spoken up. Invite them in with curiosity: “What’s your perspective?”
Learning as a Career Advantage
Natasha made it clear: complacency is the enemy of growth. The moments you feel stretched, even afraid, are often the ones where you’re building real capacity.
She posed a reflective challenge: What should I learn now to prepare myself for my next step? Don’t wait for the role you want. Start developing the skills right now.
And don’t just learn quietly—learn loudly. Sharing your progress signals curiosity and resourcefulness, and positions you as someone who is ready for opportunities.
Leader habit: Share one insight you’re learning each week with your team or community. Model growth by making it visible.
From Task to Impact
It’s easy to get lost in checking boxes. Natasha pushed us to zoom out: how do your tasks connect to the bigger picture? Strong leaders instill meaning into their work, helping others see how their contributions drive the mission forward.
Perspective shift: Next time you hand off work, frame the 'why' before the 'what'. It alters how people approach the task.
The Big Takeaway
Natasha’s session reminded us that leadership is a daily choice. By putting people first, creating environments where voices are safe, staying committed to growth, and connecting tasks to impact, we can all practice leadership, regardless of our title.
So, how will you lean into leadership this week?
