We have all encountered people who seem to naturally lead. It is easy to assume that some people are born leaders and others are not. While there may be some truth to that, one thing is clear: many leadership traits can be learned, and they improve relationships and outcomes regardless of your role or title.
While awareness is where leadership begins, the ability to remain calm, composed, and intentional under pressure is what ultimately defines a thermostat leader.
Why Both Leadership Styles Matter
It is important to say this clearly: both leadership styles have value. Thermometer leadership reflects awareness, empathy, and sensitivity to what is happening in the room. Those qualities matter, and many leaders naturally begin there.
The growth comes in learning how to become a thermostat. Thermostat leadership builds on awareness by adding regulation. It allows leaders to remain calm under pressure, think clearly when emotions run high, and set a steady tone for others. The ultimate goal is not to stop reading the room, but to lead it with composure, intention, and clarity.
Leadership may begin with awareness, but it is the ability to regulate pressure, think clearly, and set the tone for others that distinguishes a thermostat leader.
A practical way to evaluate leadership growth is to ask a simple question: are you operating as a thermometer, or are you learning to lead like a thermostat?
Thermometer Leadership Builds Awareness
A thermometer does something valuable. It reads the room.
Thermometer leaders are often highly aware, empathetic, and responsive to what is happening around them. They notice pressure, urgency, and emotion quickly. That awareness is not a weakness. In fact, it is often the first step toward growth.
The challenge comes when constant reaction turns into overwhelm. In high-pressure moments, even well-intentioned leaders can absorb stress and unintentionally pass it along to others.
Thermostat Leadership Develops Regulation
A thermostat builds on that awareness by adding intentional control.
Thermostat leaders still notice the temperature, but they do not become governed by it. They learn how to remain calm, composed, and steady when pressure rises. Instead of reacting emotionally, they respond thoughtfully.
They understand that productivity is not about constant busyness. True efficiency comes from strategic thinking, organization, and clear decision-making, even when circumstances are demanding.
Growth Happens in High-Pressure Moments
In high-stakes situations, thermometer tendencies often surface first. That is natural. Stress reveals habits.
Thermostat leadership is developed by pausing, zooming out, and asking better questions, especially in moments where urgency and emotion are high.
For a business leader, this might look like resisting the urge to react immediately to an angry email from a client, a missed deadline, or an unexpected dip in performance. Instead of responding in the moment, a thermostat leader steps back and considers the broader context before taking action.
- How does this fit into the bigger picture? Is this issue isolated to one project, one team, or one moment in time, or does it point to a larger process or communication gap?
- What is the real impact of this issue? Is this a short-term inconvenience, or does it affect customers, revenue, culture, or trust in a meaningful way?
- What will matter most six months from now? Will this decision strengthen the organization, the team, and long-term goals, or simply provide short-term relief?
By slowing down just enough to ask these questions, leaders avoid reactive decisions that create bigger problems later. They model steadiness, protect team morale, and make choices that align with long-term strategy rather than short-term pressure.
Leadership growth is not about perfection. It is about learning when to apply pressure, when to slow things down, and how to guide others forward with confidence.
Choosing the Direction You Set
Most leaders start as thermometers. That is normal.
The opportunity is learning how to become a thermostat over time, setting the tone instead of absorbing it. Leadership is not about suppressing emotion or ignoring reality. It is about responding with clarity, purpose, and care.
So ask yourself today:
Am I simply reacting to the temperature, or am I learning how to set it?
Growth begins with awareness, and leadership matures with intention.
Be present. Be patient with yourself. And keep moving forward.
Geno Quiroz serves on the Marketing & Technology team at IPX1031, a Fidelity National Financial company and a national leader in 1031 tax-deferred exchange services. In his current role, Geno focuses on website architecture, design, development, SEO/AIO, and digital marketing strategy. His work helps strengthen the company’s digital presence, improve user experience, and ensure that IPX1031’s online platforms effectively support client engagement and long-term growth.
Concurrently, Geno continues to lead Monterey Premier, the web design and strategic consulting firm he founded in 2015. Through Monterey Premier, he partners with entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and growing organizations to design high-performance websites, refine digital sales funnels, and implement conversion-focused strategies.
His hands-on experience building and scaling a client-facing agency has provided him with a real-world understanding of growth strategy, brand positioning, and the operational realities of business ownership — experience that now directly informs and strengthens his work in enterprise marketing technology.
