Achieving More with Less: Leading Through Self-Leadership and Adaptability.

I had always considered myself resilient. I had overcome adversity before. But when my husband was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer—just 11 months from diagnosis to dying—the world around me was descending into chaos. At the same time, I was running a ￡500m business, and the pressure was relentless. There was no support system in place to help me through it, and I had no space left to process the enormity of what was happening.

It’s little wonder that my health declined almost immediately, and from there, everything began to unravel. I quickly realized that no amount of resilience could carry me through when the external support simply wasn’t there. I had to become self-sufficient and redefine what it meant to take control in an uncontrollable world.

That’s where #ProjectMe was born—from the understanding that self-leadership and adaptability are not just about being strong; they are about preparing ourselves to face the unexpected. We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can choose how we show up and respond.

Through self-leadership, we can create environments where both we and our teams flourish—not by pushing harder, but by being equipped to navigate adversity with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Key Lessons for Leaders:

1. Self-Leadership: Trusting Yourself as Your Greatest Asset

True leadership starts from within. Before we can lead others, we must first lead ourselves—by taking control of our mindset, our actions, and our focus. When we trust ourselves to make purposeful decisions, we allow ourselves to navigate the uncontrollable with clarity and resilience.

Key takeaway:

As a leader, your greatest asset isn’t the hours you put in, but the ability to take responsibility for your own growth, adaptability, and focus. Trust yourself to recognise when it’s time to shift and create a path forward.

2. Adaptability: Building Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty

If the world has taught us anything, it's that change is inevitable. The leaders who flourish are those who embrace adaptability, using it not as a reaction to chaos, but as a proactive tool for flourishing. Letting go of outdated methods and embracing new approaches opens doors to unforeseen possibilities.

Key takeaway:

Adaptability isn’t just a survival tool—it’s a leadership strength. When you lean into uncertainty, you create opportunities for growth, not just for yourself but for your team. Adaptability is the key to transforming obstacles into opportunities.

3. Taking Control in an Uncontrollable World: Empowering Your Team to Flourish

As leaders, it’s easy to feel out of control when faced with overwhelming demands. But control isn’t about micromanaging—it’s about empowering your team to flourish through trust and shared purpose. By stepping back and giving your team the space to lead, you create a culture of accountability and innovation.

Key takeaway:

Leadership today isn’t about doing it all—it’s about creating an environment where everyone takes responsibility for their part, trusting that together, you can do more with less.

My Personal Reflections...

In my journey of building #ProjectMe, I’ve learned that leadership is not about controlling everything, but about controlling how we show up in the world. Self-leadership is the foundation of adaptability, resilience, and empowerment. The more we trust ourselves and embrace the unknown, the more we create space for success without compromise.

We always have a choice—and that choice is how we show up in the world.

When my builder declared bankruptcy, having just gutted my house and left it with no back wall, I had a choice in how to respond. I could have met the situation with anger or frustration, but instead, I chose to show up with compassion and understanding. As a result, my house was still completed. Was it in the way I had anticipated? No. But was it finished? Yes. This experience is a reminder that we can’t always control our circumstances, but we can control how we respond to them.

This is the power of choice in how we wish to show up in the world—for ourselves, our teams, our relationships, and even for the people we meet along the way.

As you head into the weekend, take a moment to reflect:

Where can you let go and trust yourself or your team to step up? What opportunities for growth can you create by embracing adaptability and empowering others? Where in your leadership or personal life are you still holding onto control, and how might stepping back lead to better outcomes?

I'd love to hear your thoughts—share them in the comments, or book a complimentary call to explore how #ProjectMe can support you on your journey of self-leadership and success.

"The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change their future by merely changing their attitude." — Oprah Winfrey

Rebalance – Rebuild – Reignite.

Become Unbreakable. Achieve Success without Compromise.

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For more insights on leadership, growth, and taking control in an uncontrollable world, follow @LauraToop and discover the transformative power of #ProjectMe: Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between.

Stay Connected with #ProjectMe:

• Tune into Sunday’s #ProjectMe Radio Show on YOWAH Radio - Your wellbeing and happiness radio station when I will be in conversation with Miriam Schmidberger and Dr. Markus Schmidberger where we will be sharing more insights on how to lead high-performing teams with less stress and more purpose. www.yowahradio.co.uk For those outside of the UK, a recording will be made available after the show has aired on Sunday, drop me a DM for a copy.
• Join us for "Are You Truly Living? The Courage to be Vulnerable" on Thursday, 24th October at 6.30pm here on LinkedIn, where Daniel Glyde , Mark Carolan , and I will discuss how vulnerability leads to authentic leadership. To register to listen live or to the #replay head here: