Balancing Leadership and Mentorship: Lessons from My Journey

One of the greatest challenges I faced as a young leader was finding the right balance between leadership and camaraderie. In a leadership role, that delicate balance between supporting my team and prioritising work duties is crucial. Have you ever struggled with balancing relationships and leadership? How do you maintain that balance in your team? As leaders, our primary objective is not to make friends but to guide our team members in reaching their full potential and support them in excelling in their individual roles.

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My success as a leader is directly tied to my team’s success – so is any leader’s success. As our Founding Chairman, Khalaf Al Habtoor, wisely says, “Always hire people who are as good or better than you.” This was one of the most challenging lessons I had to learn as a young leader, but it’s a crucial truth: effective leadership comes from empowering your team to reach their full potential. How do you go about empowering your team members? As someone who values precision and oversight, I’ve had to learn that leadership is not about micromanaging but about giving my team the freedom to be creative and excel, all within clear boundaries.

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For example, in my first year leading the Media and Communications team, I worked with a talented graphic designer who, despite his creativity, struggled with one of our key tasks—our bimonthly publication, Al Shindagah. After a conversation where I asked if he took pride in showing the publication to family and friends, he realised the role was not aligned with his aspirations. We both concluded that it was time for him to move on, which turned out to be beneficial for him and the company. This experience showed me that mentorship sometimes means helping individuals find their path forward even if it leads them away. In the end, both the company’s development and the person’s fulfilment hold significance.

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One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that effective leadership starts with being a listener who truly understands the teams needs and concerns—whether through direct feedback or picking up on unspoken concerns—allows me to make thoughtful, informed decisions. How do you practice active listening in your leadership role? It’s not just about listening but also about analysing the situation and using that information to guide the team. Listening fosters trust, encourages open communication, and ensures that every decision is made with the best interests of the team as a whole in mind.

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Leadership is not just about authority—it’s also about mentorship. It’s about guiding not controlling. I’ve learned that being a mentor means encouraging my team members, trusting in their abilities, and being patient with mistakes. A good mentor helps their team members take pride in their work and their results, fostering a sense of ownership. At the same time, it’s about pushing them to reach their full potential. How do you balance mentoring with leadership? As leaders, we must ensure that this journey aligns with the overall goals of the unit.

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The communications and media landscape is rapidly changing, and so must leadership. In a world where AI plays a major role in our day-to-day tasks, I encourage my team to use these tools to increase efficiency, allowing them more time to be creative where it truly matters. We do not simply follow trends—we adapt technology to fit our values and communicate our message more effectively. What technological tools have helped your team stay productive and creative? Balancing technology with authenticity is key in ensuring that we stand out.

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As someone who frequently travels, my team and I have adapted to a hybrid working style. With the rise of remote work, staying connected has been key. Technology enables us to remain engaged, but I have found that maintaining personal connections is equally important. Regular virtual meetings, combined with social activities when we are together, help us stay close-knit, ensuring that remote work does not diminish our team spirit.

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To help junior team members navigate the fast-paced world of communications, I encourage them to experiment and make mistakes. It is a learning process for all of us, and I remind them that trying new things is part of growth. Being hands-on with my team in these experiences helps create an environment where they feel supported and are not afraid to innovate.

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Mentoring has been a rewarding aspect of my leadership journey. It reminds me to stay open-minded, appreciate differences, and be adaptable. Every mentee brings a new learning experience, and I’ve found that the best mentors are those who are willing to learn from their team as much as they teach.

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I am proud of the incredible team I work with, and as I continue on my leadership journey, I am committed to fostering an environment where mentorship and leadership go hand in hand. After all, it’s this balance that truly allows a team to thrive.

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At the Al Habtoor Group, we’ve always been forward-thinking. As one of the first companies in the UAE to establish a corporate social presence, we continue to pioneer new ways to communicate while maintaining our core values. I believe that leadership in the future will require not only adapting to digital tools like AI and social media but also maintaining the human touch in every aspect of communication. Balancing technology with authenticity is what will set strong leaders apart.

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What do you think is the most important skill a leader can develop to strengthen their team? Let me know in the comments!