What does it look like to Lead On Purpose?

Most of us learn how to lead from watching others - our parents, sports coaches, managers in our workplace. But how do you find your way to your authentic style of leading? Maybe that's different from what you've been shown - and maybe our workplaces, our communities, our families need it to be.

Becoming a leader of people is one of the biggest career shifts you can make - it is momentous for us personally, and brings with it the responsibility for the experience of others. Most of us got promoted because we were really expert at the role we were in, but as a leader the skills have to shift in important ways, including:

• Moving from being an expert yourself, to supporting a diverse team made up of other experts with different experience from yours;

• Moving from self-advocating, to supporting people with unique aspirations;

• Meeting each person where they are in various phases of development;

• Addressing and managing performance, both to improve capability and to hold accountable those who are struggling.

• Moving from planning delivery over a short time horizon, to planning across longer spans and with higher stakes.

Each of these shifts requires something different from you, and different from what got you here. Every leader I’ve supported has tons of doubt, questions, uncertainties, and habits they need to let go of to make these shifts happen. And, these shifts don’t only happen once - they compound over time as you progress and grow in career, taking on new scope or new roles, and working in higher and higher stakes. Sadly, most leaders find almost zero support to make those shifts with intention and make them stick. And yet, every time leaders do make these shifts real, they all say “I will never go back”. It’s transformational.

So as our workplaces and communities and families need these skills more than ever, and as you tackle your leadership path - will you be ready? Will you be set up for success? What will need to shift as you progress in responsibility and take on new teams? What does support look like?

If you're getting ready to make a leadership shift in your own life and career, and you're finding gaps in the support your organization or role models have given you - you are not alone, and working with a executive leadership coach can help you chart your unique path.

Whether you are looking to grow your own leadership approach, practice new skills, break through to the executive level, or to grow your team through your leadership - coaching can help you achieve your goals.