On Intention

Your intention forms the basis for all your words and actions. Set it consciously to communicate and act more consistently.

Over the next ~19 days I’ll be sharing the key character traits of leaders from my book “The Leadership Lens”. These snippets are the key descriptions of how leaders think and act within the book. The book, of course, goes quite a bit further to give examples, explain why they think this way, how it contrasts with how most people think and what you can do to think and act more like a leader. Pick up a copy at http://www.theleadershiplens.com

On Intention setting

Leaders are diligent about determining medium to long-term goals for themselves. They then ensure that their intention is consciously and deliberately aligned with those goals as new contexts arise.

On elevating intention

Leaders work to elevate their intentions to match with their highest aspirational and moral imagination. Before setting their intentions, they take a moment to consider whether they might broaden their focus or increase their ambition. By doing this, they can achieve more impactful outcomes. This can often be accomplished without any additional effort or cost beyond a simple shift in perspective or worldview.

On aligning intentions with actions

Leaders know that every word they say, and action they take, must be calibrated with what they’re trying to achieve. They do this by maintaining a) a firm grasp of language, b) an understanding of how to execute, c) a deep well of patience, and d) the discipline it takes to maintain consistency.

On observing and learning from reactions

Leaders actively work to ensure their behavior elicits the intended result from others. They carefully and continuously observe the reaction of those around them to calibrate their words and actions. Just as importantly, they quickly learn from their mistakes. This mindset allows them to minimize wasted or counterproductive effort.