The Leader You Want to Be: Five Essential Principles for Bringing Out Your Best Self--Every Day

by Amy Jen Su

Leader A stays connected to purpose and regularly infuses it into her day-to-day. She upgrades her processes as needed to execute her highest and best work. Leader A relies on the people around him—he creates an invigorated and effective team and a strong community of support. Leader A has a presence that is calm, stays focused, and doesn’t react impulsively.

All leaders fluctuate between Leader A and Leader B mode. The key is to recognize when our lens begins to shift from Leader A to Leader B, and to become aware of the triggers that start us down the slippery slope to Leader B.

Once we’re on the slippery slope, we risk falling into one or more of the Four Pitfalls of Doing, which keep us locked in a cycle of stress, ineffectiveness, negativity, and feeling overwhelmed: I’ll Just Do More Pitfall, I’ll Just Do It Now Pitfall, I’ll Just Do It Myself Pitfall, and I’ll Just Do It Later Pitfall.

As we become more in tune with ourselves, we become increasingly able to lift out of the noise and consider a different way of looking at things. We realize that every moment presents a choice between Leader A and Leader B, and that we c...

Habitually feeding Leader A allows us to turn any pitfall into a performance enhancer. The five-P framework gives us a way to keep feeding Leader A, and to align and realign ourselves to these prin...

“Somehow it feels like you’ve been ejected from the driver’s seat and the world is driving you.”

Use the “Purpose = Contribution + Passion” Equation

At an earlier stage of her career, her first column would have been populated with individual client projects rather than broader areas of oversight.

Now, as a partner, her intangible contributions were more about the behaviors she modeled and how she influenced others directly and indirectly.

Ironically, some of the most successful, capable people in the world find themselves mired in Leader B mode after they receive a promotion—not unlike what happened to Kate. Often, this is because they’re still trying to live and work from their former purpose, when what’s needed is revised purpose for their current role.

Likewise, it may take a little effort to become acquainted with your new purpose at each new stage of your career development, but with the purpose equation, you’ll always have an anchor.

These are the parts of your job that bring you energy, joy, and impact, and this is where you’re most likely to feel a sense of purpose and that you’re making a difference.

high impact, effortless, made a difference, motivated, in the zone, fired up, and authentic come up time and again.

These are parts of the role that are important but drain your energy when you’re engaging in them.

QIII can also be a signal to elevate yourself. Be mindful of areas that you still enjoy—perhaps from a previous role or from when the company was smaller—but that really aren’t your highest contribution anymore.

CONTRIBUTION: Is this something where I can uniquely add value? PASSION: Is this something I will derive value from by attending or joining? IMPACT: How does this align with my larger purpose and vision?

Purpose-governed living can require a shift in your thinking, but it is worth the effort. Living out of your purpose ultimately results in more courageous, confident, and effective leadership. And a more fulfilled and satisfied you.