Look at Me, HAH HAH HAH: How Eclectic Leadership Gives You More Than a Hammer

In a world where the goalposts seem to move faster than you can kick the ball, it’s tempting to throw up your hands and wonder: are you even playing the right game? If you’ve ever found yourself ranting that the rules changed before you even got your turn, you’re not alone.

In a rapidly changing world, leadership can no longer rely on a single skill or approach. The “HAH HAH HAH” mindset—Have A Hammer, Hit All Hard, Humbly Adapt and Heal—captures the need for leaders to wield a diverse toolbox with humility, agility, and empathy. Eclectic Leadership equips you to switch tools seamlessly, connect meaningfully, and lead with wisdom beyond forceful one-size-fits-all solutions.

The reality today is that the pace of learning and applying new skills has accelerated so much that being a specialist in one area no longer guarantees success — or relevance.

Let’s unpack what this means for leadership, learning, and life itself — and why the future belongs to those with an eclectic toolbox, not just a single hammer.

The Changing Game of Skills

Take a moment to think about your favourite musician. Chances are they aren’t just known for their beautiful voice anymore. They star in music videos, masterfully engage the crowd during live performances, sport a collection of outlandish costumes, and, yes, sometimes even crowd-surf like a pro. What was once a pure craft has evolved into a multi-dimensional performance art.

This isn’t just true for artists. In every profession, the expectation is shifting from being excellent at a core skill to mastering a combination of abilities that make you adaptable and impactful across contexts.

The Specialist Trap and the HAH HAH Phenomenon

Our educational and professional systems have traditionally rewarded specialisation. It makes perfect sense — you want your surgeon razor-sharp on their scalpels, and your plumber equally sharp on pipes (because you definitely don't want either improvising on the job!). Specialists have depth, authority, and mastery.

However, there is a catch: specialisation sometimes breeds what we call the HAH HAH phenomenon — “Have A Hammer, Hit All Hard.” When deeply invested in one skill, it’s easy to start seeing every problem as a nail to be hammered. For instance, coaching has proven immense value as a skill and profession. Yet to claim coaching as the one ultimate world-changer oversimplifies the complexity of real-world solutions.

This hammer-only mindset restricts us from seeing the broader landscape we need to lead and innovate effectively.

Why We Need Eclecticism: The Toolbox Approach

What the modern world requires is a toolbox — a mix of conceptually coherent and contextually relevant skills ready to apply at the right moments. Employers, leaders, and creators alike benefit from skills that are not only varied but can be switched between seamlessly and almost instinctively.

Learning designers, trainers, coaches, and education consultants have a fantastic opportunity to rethink how we develop people. When we design with eclecticism in mind, we create leaders who are nimble, curious, and capable of navigating the unknown.

Leadership as Generalist Coordination

What about leadership itself? Is it a specialist skill? Or is leadership better understood as a meta-skill — a generalist ability to coordinate, apply, and synthesise a range of specialised skills depending on the situation?

If leadership were just one domain of deep expertise, the question remains: could CEOs, political leaders, or community champions thrive equipped with only one lens? Or do they need a broader vision that allows them to integrate diverse perspectives and skills?

Those pondering this question often find themselves circling back to the old saying: If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Adding Depth: Humbly Adapt and Heal

Extending this idea further, consider the phrase “Humbly Adapt and Heal” as a vital addition to the leadership mindset — especially for avoiding the pitfalls of the hammer-only approach.

• Humbly: Embracing humility in leadership means knowing your strengths and limitations without ego, welcoming feedback, admitting mistakes, and fostering an inclusive environment where all voices matter. Humble leaders build trust, encourage collaboration, and set the stage for sustainable success.

• Adapt: The pace of change demands leaders who can pivot gracefully, learn continuously, and respond thoughtfully to new challenges. Adaptability transforms leadership from rigid control to agile navigation.

• Heal: Leadership is not just about delivering outcomes but also about healing relationships, resolving conflicts, and creating spaces where people feel psychologically safe. Healing leadership nurtures team cohesion and overall well-being.

Together, these qualities transcend the limitations of “just hitting hard.” They invite leaders to wield their toolbox with wisdom, compassion, and strategic flexibility — essential in today’s complex, interconnected world.

Eclectic Leadership: Beyond One Dimensional Expertise

The Eclectic Leadership Movement proudly rejects the hammer-only approach. Instead, it equips leaders with a well-stocked toolbox and the wisdom to discern which tool — or skillset — fits a particular task and context best.

This approach calls for clarity about oneself and others, deep connection across differences, and the ability to create confluence — a harmonious blend of ideas and values — in leadership practice.

Why This Matters Now More than Ever

In today's rapidly evolving economy and society, adaptability isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s survival. The World Economic Forum’s latest Future of Jobs Report confirms that success increasingly depends on a hybrid of skills: technical expertise combined with creativity, emotional intelligence, and cultural fluency.

Leaders who lean on a single skill risk obsolescence as environments shift and challenges grow more complex.

Building an Eclectic Toolbox: Practical Steps

• Start with self-awareness: Recognise your core strengths but also your blind spots.

• Expand your learning horizons: Explore disciplines outside your comfort zone — psychology, linguistics, indigenous knowledge, or philosophy.

• Practice skill switching: Develop the agility to move between different skills as situations demand.

• Build diverse networks: Connect with people from vastly different backgrounds and perspectives to broaden your understanding.

• Prioritise continuous learning: Commit to lifelong curiosity and relearning, recognising that knowledge and context shift continuously.

Whether you’re a young professional, a seasoned leader, or someone curious about their potential impact, the Eclectic Leadership Movement invites you to rethink leadership not as a title or rank, but as a dynamic, evolving practice.

With the right mix of skills, connections, and clarity, you can lead authentically and effectively in any environment.

So ask yourself: what tools are in your leadership toolbox? And are you ready to pick up a new one?

Shehzaad Shams,

London, UK

3rd November, 2025