Alok Chanani, Co-Founder & CEO, BuildOps
When I was in Iraq, leading a unit that moved critical resources, success was about trust, preparedness, and silent discipline. Often, the strongest influence came from the smallest actions—making sure my team felt equipped and supported every step of the way.
Fast forward to leading a tech company, and I’ve seen those same principles hold true. Subtle leadership—humility, quiet influence, and deliberate action—often drives change in ways flashy leadership can’t. These quiet leaders empower teams to excel and build cultures that last.
Letting Go of the Charisma Myth
It’s easy to assume the loudest voice in the room has the most influence. But true leadership isn’t about volume—it’s about impact. Satya Nadella didn’t transform Microsoft by dominating the stage; he did it by fostering empathy and collaboration. And Apple’s breakthroughs? They owe just as much to Steve Wozniak’s quiet genius as to Steve Jobs’ vision.
At BuildOps, we’ve leaned into this model. Scaling a company past 300 people without losing agility is no small feat—it requires trust and empowerment at every turn.
A great example: When we set out to launch a major tool within less than two quarters, the challenge wasn’t just speed—it was focus. Rather than dictating rigid directives, we worked closely with our product leaders to identify the biggest bottlenecks, cut unnecessary features that didn’t drive core value, and streamline cross-functional collaboration.
One key shift: Instead of weekly status meetings that drained time, we implemented short, focused stand-ups where engineers and designers addressed blockers in real time. We also carved out dedicated “deep work” hours, minimizing distractions so the team could stay in flow.
The result? The product launched on schedule, adoption exceeded expectations, and the momentum carried forward into subsequent product iterations—proving that precision and agility go hand in hand.
Four Cornerstones of Subtle Leadership
Humility Over Ego
In combat and business, I’ve learned that ego is the fastest way to break trust. Leadership isn’t about who gets the credit; it’s about shared success.
When we closed a complex, high-stakes deal with a national HVAC services provider, it wasn’t just one or two people’s work—it was the result of more than 50 people across departments. Instead of highlighting individual contributions, we focused on the team’s achievement as a whole and reinforced a culture of shared success.
Research shows that humble leaders drive higher employee engagement and satisfaction.
Listening That Counts
One-on-ones aren’t just status updates for me; they’re an opportunity to really hear what’s going on—roadblocks, motivations, and untapped potential. In fact, I like to take walks during one-on-ones so each team member can relax, be candid, and feel heard. Taking it out of the “office setting” lets people be more creative—plus, we get our steps in!
One example: We identified an engineer whose talents were being underutilized due to competing demands. By shifting his focus to AI development, we uncovered his full potential and created a dedicated AI team that’s now driving major platform innovations. Small changes in focus can lead to a big impact when leaders take the time to listen and remove roadblocks.
Reflect Before Acting
As a commander, I learned that even in high-pressure situations, thoughtful planning makes all the difference.
A great example: When we were preparing to roll out a major integration with one of our largest enterprise customers, there was immediate pressure to move fast. The customer wanted it live as soon as possible, and internally, there was momentum to push it forward quickly.
But instead of rushing deployment, we took a step back to evaluate risks, test edge cases, and ensure smooth functionality across our platform. That extra planning time paid off—the integration launched smoothly, adoption was higher than expected, and we avoided what could have been major disruptions had we acted too quickly.
This reinforced an important lesson: Thoughtful leadership isn’t about moving the fastest—it’s about moving in the right direction.
Building a Legacy Through Others
A mission only lasts if others can carry it forward. Back in Iraq, I’d remind my team that the goal wasn’t just to complete our missions; it was to build systems that worked even in our absence. The same principle guides my leadership today.
Take our annual user conference, Forge. I stepped back and let team leads present our biggest innovations. They rocked it, and attendees left more connected to the team’s vision. When employees feel empowered and own their work, they’re more engaged and productive.
Navigating the Challenges
Subtle leadership has its risks. Stay too quiet and people might think you’re not engaged. It’s important to balance quiet influence with visible alignment. While I listen actively during one-on-ones I also rally the whole team during all-hands meetings. Those moments of visible leadership help reinforce our shared mission and keep everyone on the same page.
Using Subtle Leadership
- Spotlight Team Impact: Amplify team success over individual recognition.
- Master Enrollment: Inspire through vulnerability and authenticity. Sharing my failures has built trust with my team.
- Lead by Example: Simple, consistent actions matter. Showing up first for high-priority meetings sets the tone for focus and discipline.
Leadership isn’t about getting attention; it’s about creating the conditions where others can thrive. And that might just be the biggest influence of all.
Alok Chanani, CEO of BuildOps, is a visionary leader transforming the commercial contracting industry. A former U.S. Army Captain turned tech founder, Alok leverages his military-honed leadership skills and an MBA from Wharton to drive innovation in construction through BuildOps’ groundbreaking cloud-based platform.
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