When Experience Isn’t Enough... A Reflection on Leadership Without a Platform

There’s something I’ve been reflecting on lately, and I think many seasoned professionals will relate, the challenge of having been in leadership, having the experience and track record, and yet still struggling to find, or hold onto, a platform where your leadership is fully recognized.

Over the years, I’ve served as an IT Manager and Director, leading security, infrastructure, and technology teams through a wide range of challenges. I’ve built strategies, responded to incidents, supported compliance, and worked across departments to keep people and systems aligned.

At times, I’ve stepped into roles that felt exactly right, where I could lead with purpose, mentor teams, and help shape direction. But at other times, even in a leadership role on paper, the reality felt different.

Sometimes, you find yourself managing a team, but without visibility into what they’re being asked to do. Tasks and priorities are set by others. Conversations happen without you. Decisions get made, and you're informed after the fact, if at all. You're not a partner in the process… you're an observer. And that disconnect starts to chip away at your ability to be effective, and frankly, to feel like a leader at all.

It’s not always intentional. Sometimes it’s organizational dynamics, shifting structures, or simply a lack of clarity. But the outcome is the same: your role is diluted, and your voice is lost in the noise.

Here’s the other part of the equation: sometimes, people have the title, but not the experience. Leadership in name doesn't always translate to leadership in action. Just being smart or savvy doesn’t mean someone knows how to manage or direct effectively, that comes with experience, with time in the trenches, with lessons learned the hard way.

I often think of Directors in IT like Directors in film: they understand the actors, their strengths, and how each one fits into the bigger picture. They know how to guide, adjust, and make tough calls while keeping the overall vision in focus. It’s not about doing everything yourself, it’s about knowing how to bring it all together.

The same goes for managers. Real management isn’t about handing out tasks or setting deadlines. It’s about removing blockers, growing your people, building trust, and helping them see where they fit into something larger. It’s about enabling success, not just measuring it.

It's not about blame or resentment, it’s about acknowledging a real challenge many of us face when we’ve grown into leadership, only to feel like we’re being held back from it.

And the hardest part? You've done the work. You’ve been there. But trying to re-establish yourself, either inside your current role or by finding a new one, is harder than anyone talks about.

If you’re feeling that way, know this: you're not alone. You haven’t lost your value. You haven’t peaked. You just haven’t found the right platform again, yet.