10 Things Every Leader Needs to Know (According to 10 Years of Reverb)

To celebrate Reverb’s 10-year anniversary, we’re offering 25% off our full Management Training 101 course and 10% off individual modules, because great leadership is worth investing in.

Over the past decade, we’ve trained hundreds of leaders at all levels. Whether you’re managing your first team or stepping into a more senior leadership role, the fundamentals of good management haven’t changed. Here are 10 things every leader needs to know and do to lead with clarity, confidence, and care.

1. Trust is your foundation. You can’t lead without it. Psychological safety, transparency, and follow-through build the trust your team needs to thrive. Without it? Even the best strategies will stall.
2. Psychological safety isn’t soft, it’s smart. People speak up, share ideas, and take smart risks when they feel safe. Build a culture where feedback is welcomed, not feared.
3. Candor prevents conflict. The goal isn’t to avoid conflict. It’s to approach it constructively. High-performing teams know how to say hard things with care.
4. Mediation is a leadership skill. Sometimes, you’ll need to step in. Knowing how to guide others through conflict (without taking sides) is a skill that sets great leaders apart.
5. Clear goals create accountability. Your team can’t hit a target they can’t see. Make goals actionable, specific, and visible, then help each person see how they contribute.
6. Delegation isn’t dumping. Delegating well means offering the context, authority, and support someone needs to succeed. It’s how you scale your impact and develop others.
7. Performance conversations aren’t just for reviews. Feedback should be frequent, specific, and focused on growth. Don’t wait for annual reviews to let people know how they’re doing.
8. Expectations must be explicit. Most “performance issues” are actually clarity issues. Spell out what good looks like and check for understanding.
9. Coaching is your secret weapon. It’s not about having all the answers, it’s about asking the right questions. Coaching unlocks ownership and autonomy in your team.
10. Curiosity beats control. The best leaders don’t need to be the smartest person in the room. They stay curious, listen deeply, and know when to step back so others can shine.

🎉 Celebrate with us! In honor of 10 years of building better workplaces, we’re offering:

✔️ 25% off our full Management Training 101 course with code REVERB10

✔️ 10% off any individual module with code DECADE

• Building a Foundation of Trust
• Maximizing Candor + Minimizing Conflict
• Setting Goals
• Managing Performance + Giving and Receiving Feedback
• Coaching for Development

Invest in yourself and your team. Explore the courses here.