The Value of Leadership: A Mountain Story

Leadership is not a buzzword; it's the practice of making the invisible visible when uncertainty clouds a team's path. The author learned this on a fog-filled hike in the Swiss Alps, where every step became a guess and the lack of reference points created a psychological weight that stalled progress. That same fog shows up in startups and tech orgs as unclear goals, ambiguous priorities, and endless debate.\n\nIn the mountain, the guide couldn't clear the fog physically, but they could point the group in a direction and move forward one step at a time. The author argues that a clear, even if wrong, decision is preferable to paralysis. When leaders commit to a path, teams can test, adjust, and keep momentum, whereas vague leadership leaves everyone stuck in indecision.\n\nFor technical leaders, the takeaway is practical: stop hedging, stop speaking in ambiguities, and give your team a visible north. Communicate a direction with confidence, accept that it may need backtracking, and focus the team's energy on execution instead of endless analysis. By clearing the fog, you turn uncertainty into actionable steps and keep momentum alive.