10 Human-Centered Leadership Principles

A New Leadership Manifesto

Some of the best thinking comes in the form of manifestos.

The Agile Manifesto.
Dieter Rams’ Ten Principles of Good Design.
Nike’s internal 10 Principles by Rob Strasser.

These are more than slogans.
They’re touchstones for action — simple, human, energizing.

So I thought: why not write my own, borrowing a little here and there from others. Good artists copy, great artists steal.

A manifesto for those who build with care, lead with courage, and don’t wait for permission.

1. Ask for forgiveness, not permission.

Innovation rarely starts with approval.
Build what you believe in — and deal with the politics later.
You will be remembered for the rules you break.

2. Build teams first, then products.

Good products are built by healthy teams.
Invest in trust, care, and clarity — and the product will follow.

3. People and interactions over processes and tools.

Stolen from Agile, and still true.
Tools are only as good as the humans using them.
Build relationships before systems.

4. Find a way — or build one.

Constraints don’t stop creativity.
They shape it.
Be scrappy. Be resourceful. Be relentless.

5. Never build what is asked.

Dig deeper.
Understand the real need.
Then build what actually matters.

6. Less talking, more building.

Endless alignment leads nowhere.
Create momentum by making things.
Then talk about what’s real.

7. Live off the land.

Use what you have, don’t wait for ideal conditions.
Work with the terrain, not against it.
It takes knowledge, humility, and creativity.
But that’s how great work gets done.

8. Everyone is a designer.

Design is not a job title — it’s a mindset.
Everyone on the team shapes the experience.
So give them the tools, the trust, and the invitation to contribute.

9. Good management is as little management as possible.

The best leadership is invisible.
Create clarity, then get out of the way. People want clarity not transparency.
Support, don’t control.
Unblock, don’t bottleneck.

10. We all have wings, but some of us don’t know why.

There’s magic in everyone.
Part of leadership is reminding people they can fly —
even if they’ve forgotten how.

This Is Not a Rulebook.

It’s a reminder.
That what we do is human. Messy. Creative. Courageous.
It’s not about perfection — it’s about presence.

Use this as a mirror.
Use it as a compass.
Use it as a spark.

And if it resonates: share it, remix it, or write your own.