The Power of Layered Leadership: Lessons from Larry Armstrong
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What if leadership was more than just strategy and decision-making? What if it was an art form—layered with creativity, self-awareness, and bold vision?
In this episode, we share a conversation with Larry Armstrong, former CEO, architect, artist, and author of Layered Leadership, and explore how leaders can cultivate depth and creativity in their leadership approach.
The Leadership Philosophy of Layers
Larry Armstrong’s leadership model is built on the idea of layers—just as an architect designs with structure, light, and space, a leader must build with vision, adaptability, and creativity.
The way I conceive my art, the way I provide leadership, and the way I built my company is in layers. Leadership isn’t linear—it’s about stacking ideas, experiences, and learning on top of each other.
Key takeaway: Leaders should embrace multi-dimensional thinking—seeing challenges, opportunities, and team dynamics as interconnected rather than isolated.
Creativity as a Leadership Tool
One of the most compelling takeaways from our conversation was how art and leadership feed each other. Larry’s work as an artist unlocked new ways of thinking, problem-solving, and leading his company.
Being an artist made me a better CEO. And being a CEO made me a better artist.
He encourages leaders to bring creativity into their leadership practice—whether through artistic expression, storytelling, or simply rethinking traditional business constraints.
Action Item: Pick a creative pursuit—journaling, music, sketching, or even photography—and spend 15 minutes this week engaging with it. Then, ask yourself: How does this creative process inform my leadership style?
The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership Growth
Many leaders are ambitious but struggle with self-awareness. Larry shared that his leadership journey was shaped not just by confidence but also by self-reflection and learning from mistakes.
Self-awareness comes from a mixture of self-doubt, ambition, and learning from mistakes.
Instead of seeing mistakes as failures, he reframes them as layers of experience that build stronger leadership.
Action Item: Identify one past leadership mistake and write down what you learned from it. How can you use that insight to lead better today?
The Power of Long-Term, Daring Goals
Larry is a firm believer in bold, long-term vision. He implemented five-year plans at his company that not only doubled revenue ahead of schedule but also energized and united his executive team.
Long-term goals create a clear path forward and allow teams to stay aligned with a vision.
When leaders think big and provide a compelling destination, teams become more invested in the journey.
Action Item: Ask yourself: What’s one daring goal I want to achieve in the next five years? Write it down and outline the first small step toward making it a reality.
Wellness and Leadership: A Non-Negotiable
As someone who once pushed himself to the brink of burnout, Larry now prioritizes personal well-being as an essential leadership skill.
You have to take care of yourself. You have to exercise. You have to eat right. You have to take time away from work.
He now makes it a point to encourage his team to prioritize wellness, recognizing that sustainable leadership requires a strong mind and body.
Action Item: What’s one simple wellness habit you can implement this week? Whether it’s a short walk, better sleep, or mindful breathing, commit to it daily.
Leadership as an Ever-Evolving Art
Larry Armstrong’s Layered Leadership challenges us to rethink leadership as a multi-dimensional practice—one that blends vision, creativity, self-awareness, and well-being.
What’s your next step? Whether it’s setting a daring goal, embracing creativity, or prioritizing wellness, take one action today to layer more depth into your leadership.
Want more insights? Pick up a copy of Layered Leadership by Larry Armstrong
About The Leadership Vision Podcast
The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in the discovery, practice, and implementation of a strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. We believe that knowing your Strengths is only the beginning. Our highest potential exists in the ongoing exploration of our talents.
Please contact us if you have ANY questions about anything you heard in this episode or if you’d like to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.
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