In 2003, researchers at Duke University conducted a groundbreaking study involving agouti mice genetically predisposed to obesity, disease, and a yellow coat that signaled poor health. The scientists altered the diets of pregnant mice by supplementing them with methyl-rich nutrients commonly found in foods like onions and garlic. The result? The offspring, despite inheriting the same DNA as parents with poor health, were born lean, healthy, and brown instead of yellow. This discovery, rooted in the field of epigenetics, revealed that intentional choices and the environments they create play a powerful role in shaping outcomes.
Just as diet transformed the trajectory of the mice, leaders’ daily choices (words, tone, expectations, and priorities) reshape the culture and potential of their teams…because leadership is not only about setting direction or executing strategy but also about cultivating a climate that either activates or suppresses the best within people.
Leaders are, in essence, environmental architects. Every interaction becomes part of the “nutritional environment” for those they lead. And like the nutrients in the agouti mice study, leadership interactions can lead to extraordinary transformations — unlocking potential, fostering resilience, and even rewriting what seemed like a predetermined path.
Creating a Culture of Psychological Safety and Trust. Consider what happens when a leader chooses to model vulnerability, to invite open dialogue, and to act with integrity. These behaviors create a culture of psychological safety, wherein people feel free to take risks, to admit mistakes, and to learn. Going beyond improving morale, this kind of environment boosts innovation, collaboration, and long-term performance.
Managing Team Stress. Chronic stress is one of the most significant threats to sustainable team performance. Chronic stress erodes focus, dampens creativity, and slowly undermines trust and cohesion. Leaders play a pivotal role in protecting their teams from this invisible drain. Proactively addressing stress — by adjusting workloads, setting clear priorities, promoting rest and recovery, and staying attuned to signs of burnout — helps leaders to create an environment wherein resilience can grow. Managing personal stress privately is not an option for leaders, who must make well-being public — visible and actionable for their teams. When they champion work-life balance and make space for open conversations about pressure and pace, leaders send a clear signal: Team well-being isn’t a perk; it’s a strategic imperative. As a result, intentional care becomes a cultural staple, shaping how people show up, support each other, and sustain high performance over time.
Lead with Empathy. Demonstrating empathy, through listening deeply, acknowledging emotions, and giving thoughtful feedback is strategic leadership, not soft leadership. In high-stress environments, wherein uncertainty and pressure can quickly unravel cohesion, empathy becomes a stabilizing force. When team members feel seen, heard, and valued, they are more likely to trust their leaders, to collaborate openly, and to remain committed through challenges. Empathy strengthens psychological safety, which is the foundation of innovation and adaptability. By communicating with empathy, leaders not only defuse tension in the moment but also build the kind of long-term loyalty and resilience that teams need to weather difficult seasons.
Legacy Is Built in the Present
The Duke study reminds us that we are not bound by our programming. And neither are leaders confined by the inertia of past culture or existing constraints. Just as environment can override genetic predisposition, intentional leadership can reshape the trajectory of a team and/or an organization. By consistently modeling the values and behaviors they wish to see, leaders can influence the cultural “DNA” that defines how others think, feel, and perform. Ultimately, the most enduring legacy a leader leaves is not a list of accomplishments but an environment wherein people are empowered to thrive and achieve extraordinary things.
Shaping the Future: How Leaders Influence Beyond the Present was originally published in Horizon Performance on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
