In today’s fast-moving workplace, leadership isn’t about barking orders—it’s about building trust. Wilbert Bayani, a Certified Management Accountant (Australia) with over 30 years of experience across global industries, knows this firsthand. His leadership philosophy? Step back so your team can step up.
Told to Financial Adviser PH in an interview, Bayani shares how his management style evolved from rigid to empowering—and why that shift unlocked greater creativity, innovation, and results.
“My management style evolved from Theory X to Theory Y through feedback, coaching, and formal training,” he says. In his early years, Bayani was all about control. But over time, he realized the best leaders aren’t taskmasters—they’re enablers.
“Trust is the cornerstone of ownership and innovation,” Bayani says. “Creativity thrives when teams are empowered to make decisions.”
That shift didn’t just happen overnight. Through 180- and 360-degree feedback, structured coaching, and hands-on capstone leadership projects, Bayani learned to let go—and lead differently.
His leadership playbook now starts with three key principles:
-
Empowerment Over Micromanagement
Bayani gives his team space to make decisions, solve problems, and take ownership. Why? Because people rise to the level of trust you place in them. When teams are empowered, they don’t just meet expectations—they exceed them.
-
Feedback Fuels Growth
Instead of shying away from criticism, Bayani embraced it. “Leadership coaching showed me that feedback is a gift. It’s the mirror that helps you see the leader your team actually experiences—not just the one you think you are.”
-
Lead by Clearing the Path
Great leaders don’t hoard the spotlight. They remove obstacles, amplify team wins, and celebrate success. “It’s not about being the smartest in the room,” he says. “It’s about being the one who makes the room work.”
Bayani’s transformation shows that real leadership isn’t about control—it’s about creating conditions where others can thrive. And it’s not just good for morale. When your team feels seen, trusted, and supported, innovation becomes second nature.
The results speak for themselves. Bayani now leads with confidence, not control. He empowers teams to take bold action, speak up, and innovate—because he knows they’ll rise to the occasion.
In a world where adaptability and creativity are everything, Bayani’s advice is clear: the best thing a leader can do is step aside—and let their team shine.
