The Power of Leadership Visibility: Creating a Ripple Effect That Lasts

How do leaders show up in ways that not only influence their teams today but create lasting ripple effects across their organisations and communities? Too often, leaders believe their job is to be busy, decisive, and always “on”. But as Lisa Even shared in our conversation, the way you show up becomes the weather your team works in. Your presence shapes culture, strengthens community, and determines whether that culture is one of trust, joy, and belonging – or one of chaos and disconnection.

In this week’s episode, we explored the ripple effect of leadership presence, cultural blind spots leaders often miss, and how small daily choices create extraordinary impact – both inside the workplace and in the wider community.

Leadership Visibility Is More Than Being Seen

Leadership visibility isn’t about being front and centre at every meeting or speaking the loudest. It’s about being intentional in how you show up. Lisa reminded us of an eye-opening moment when her team described her presence as “busy”. That realisation reframed her leadership style.

Leaders carry the weather into the room. If you arrive frantic and distracted, that energy ripples outward. If you arrive curious, calm, and open, the ripple is entirely different.

Visibility isn’t just about being seen – it’s about being seen in the right way, by your team and by your wider community.

Spotting the Quiet Erosion of Culture and Community

Lisa also shared how culture isn’t created by big moments but by daily habits, attitudes, and small interactions. When unchecked, negative behaviours become norms, which then harden into beliefs. Leaders who are visible but inattentive risk normalising dysfunction.

This erosion isn’t limited to the workplace. When leaders neglect presence, the wider community also notices. Customers, clients, and local networks pick up on the culture you allow. It only takes one hurried, distracted leader to shift perceptions from supportive to disconnected.

Ask yourself:

• Are meetings starting with complaints instead of wins?
• Do small frustrations get brushed off instead of addressed?
• Are excuses made for poor behaviour because “that’s just how they are”?

Leadership visibility means catching these early signals and addressing them head-on before they fracture both workplace culture and community reputation.

One of Lisa’s most practical tools is the PB&J framework:

• P = Perspective – Ask your team for their input. You’ll be surprised how often they’ve already thought of better solutions.
• B = Better ways – Encourage ideas for improving frustrating processes.
• J = Joy – Find out what sparks joy for your people, inside and outside of work.

These aren’t just leadership tools, they’re the building blocks of community. Perspective creates shared ownership. Better ways create collaboration. Joy creates belonging. And when leaders nurture these elements internally, they often spill into external community initiatives, from volunteering programs to local partnerships.

Generational Leaders

From baby boomers to Gen Z (and now Gen Alpha), teams are more generationally diverse than ever. Visibility here means adapting your style: sometimes communicating in text for younger staff, sometimes face-to-face for older team members.

Lisa’s “potluck” story perfectly illustrated this: not everyone will enjoy the same activities, and that’s okay. The same applies to community initiatives. Not every project will resonate with everyone, but if people see their leaders showing up with intention, they’ll find their own way to contribute.

A thriving workplace community isn’t about sameness, it’s about respecting different needs and preferences while still uniting people in shared purpose – both at work and in the wider community.

Trust, Presence, and Community Ripple Effects

Leadership presence builds trust, and trust fuels performance. A simple but powerful tip? Ask questions people always know the answer to: Where are you from? How long have you worked here? What do you prefer? These nuggets create connection and common ground that last beyond the moment.

When leaders build trust internally, the ripple extends outward. Teams who feel seen and valued are more likely to speak positively about their workplace, recommend it to others, and champion community initiatives that reflect shared values.

🎥 Watch the full interview with Lisa Even on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiKL0gD50js 
🎧 Listen to the full episode on The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast: https://www.michellepascoe.com/The-Michelle-Pascoe-Hospitality-Podcast 

Resources

• Lisa’s PB&J worksheet – https://lisaeven.com/resources/
• Joy Is My Job – https://lisaeven.com/books/
• Have Good Ripple Effect Podcast – https://open.spotify.com/show/7D7LlqTqp0Xsbxrqk3dYEN?si=a11753e6c0ee4b61