Reclaiming the Five Lost Superpowers of Leadership
Leadership often feels like a constant quest to add more—more tools, more strategies, more skills.
But what if the most powerful leadership traits aren’t things we need to build... but things we’ve simply forgotten?
That’s the idea at the heart of my conversation with executive coach and author Corena Chase, who joined me on the Stepping Into Your Leadership podcast to talk about her book The Five Lost Superpowers.
And let me tell you—this conversation stopped me in my tracks.
Because the truth is, we’re not starting from scratch.
We’re returning to ourselves.
What Are the 5 Leadership Superpowers?
Corena and her co-authors identify five traits that most of us had in abundance as children—but tend to lose as we navigate school, work, and life pressures:
- Authenticity – Being real, not just polished
- Curiosity – Asking questions instead of performing answers
- Playfulness – Letting creativity and lightness guide us
- Compassion – Leading with empathy and humanity
- Resilience – Staying grounded through challenge and change
“You already have them. Your job is to remember.”
That mindset shift—reclaim, not acquire—is at the heart of authentic leadership.
Curiosity: The Secret to Authentic Networking
One of the most useful leadership superpowers we discussed was curiosity.
Corena shared how she reframed networking as “interviewing”—a way to learn about others, not pitch yourself. I loved that because it reminded me of a quote from Marcus Buckingham:
“I hate networking. But I love interviewing.”
When we activate curiosity, we stop trying to impress and start trying to connect. And that shift opens doors—inside teams, with clients, and in high-stakes conversations.
Playfulness at Work: A Serious Strategy
Playfulness might seem like an odd trait to emphasize at work, but it’s one of the most effective ways to spark learning and engagement.
As someone who’s worked in both schools and boardrooms, I’ve seen it firsthand: play wakes up the brain. Whether it’s a creative brainstorming session, a quick roleplay, or a light-hearted team check-in, playful moments energize our teams and deepen collaboration.
And here’s the secret: it doesn’t have to come from you.
Let your team bring the play. Delegate “fun” the same way you delegate KPIs.
Authenticity Is a Practice, Not a Personality
Authenticity is one of the most requested leadership traits—and one of the hardest to define.
Corena shared a powerful concept:
“Play around the edges of your authenticity.”
Instead of forcing yourself to “be real” all at once, experiment. Stretch. Try showing up as just 10% more of your full self in the next meeting.
She even coached a client to channel Olivia Pope from Scandal—just to feel into a new way of leading. That’s what reclaiming looks like: trying it on, not perfecting it.
The GUTS Framework for Leading Authentically
Want a simple framework for building authentic leadership? Try this:
- G – Genuine connection
- U – Unloose different styles and voices
- T – Trust your people with transparency
- S – Share stories that connect, not just impress
When your team sees you, they feel safe to show up too.
Final Thought: Your Superpowers Are Still There
If leadership has started to feel like a grind—or you're tired of feeling like you need to be someone else—this is your reminder:
You’re not missing something. You’re just ready to remember who you are.
Pick one of the five leadership superpowers:
- Be curious in your next 1:1
- Bring a playful question to your team meeting
- Share one story that helped shape you
You don’t need to add more. You just need to reclaim what’s already within you.
🎧 Listen + Learn
- Listen to the full podcast episode with Corena Chase → [Click Here]
- Get the book: The Five Lost Superpowers → [Amazon Link]
- Download the free leadership tip sheet → [Tip Sheet Link]
- Explore more leadership resources
Christine Courtney is a leadership coach, speaker, and host of the Stepping Into Your Leadership podcast. Her mission is to help leaders lead with more courage, connection, and clarity.
