Before this summer, my leadership style was probably more hands-off. I’ve always believed in giving people space to figure things out on their own. I’m someone who doesn’t love being micromanaged, so I tend to avoid doing it to others. Usually, I tend to trust people and only jump in when something actually goes wrong. After starting my internship, I think my approach to leadership gradually shifted given the new circumstances.
That changed almost immediately once I started working with my supervisor in Korea. There was a real language barrier between us, so asking questions and making conversation became something I had to actually plan for. I had to think about how I was phrasing things and break my thoughts down into slower, plain sentences. I also had to double-check that what I said actually made sense on the other end, not just to me.
At first, this was honestly kind of humbling. I realized that a lot of my hands-off leadership style wasn’t really about trusting people. It was about avoiding the slightly uncomfortable parts of communicating, like asking a clarifying question that might make me look unsure, or checking in one more time just to be safe. In an environment where communication was effortless, I never had to face that discomfort. In Korea, it forced me to adjust to the discomfort and face it head-on.
To combat this, I started asking more questions. Not just once, but multiple times, in different ways, until I was confident the message actually got across clearly in both directions. I started writing things out simply before meetings, so I wouldn’t fumble through an explanation in the moment. I got a lot more comfortable saying “let me make sure I understand this correctly” instead of just nodding along and hoping for the best. That might sound small, but for someone who used to avoid asking too many questions because it felt like a bother, it was actually a big shift.
I also had to get comfortable putting myself out there in a way I wasn’t used to. Clarifying something across a language barrier means you have to be okay with a little bit of back and forth, a little bit of “wait, can you explain that again,” and not treat that as a failure. I used to think good leadership meant having it all figured out and rarely needing to double-check things. Now I think good leadership means being willing to slow down and make sure everyone is actually on the same page, even if that takes a few extra tries.
The biggest change in me isn’t that I suddenly became some assertive, take-charge type of leader. I’m still someone who values giving people space and trusting their work. But I lead with a lot more confidence now, especially when it comes to communication. I’m not afraid to ask a question twice. I’m not afraid to overexplain something if it means avoiding a mix-up down the line. I’ve learned that checking in with people isn’t a sign of weak leadership; it’s actually one of the most important parts of leading well, especially when you’re working across cultures or communication styles.
This internship forced me out of a leadership style that only worked because my environment made it easy. Now I have a leadership style that can hold up even when things are harder, when communication takes more effort, and when I have to actively work to make sure people understand me instead of assuming they will. Overall, I will be leaving the internship with more confidence in showing up, asking questions, and putting myself out there even when situations feel uncomfortable or new.
