Leading with Intention: How Purpose Shapes Your Path

The Power of Intention: Setting the Stage for Success

Let’s start with a story.

Anna was a promising leader at a fast-growing company. She had the skills, the experience, and the drive to succeed. But despite her achievements, her team often felt disconnected, even disoriented, unsure of their purpose within the organization. During a particularly challenging project, Anna realized she was leading with urgency rather than clarity. She was managing tasks, not aligning to the organizations vision. This revelation made her stop, reflect, and reset with a clear intention—to align her actions and her team with a shared sense of purpose and vision. The transformation was palpable; her team felt more cohesive, driven, and engaged, and Anna discovered that leading with intention fostered a sustainable kind of success. She aligned the high level vision with intention in terms of how she behaved. ?

Here is something to consider: having intention and vision are closely related, yet they play different roles in guiding our actions and decisions, especially in leadership.

1. Vision is the broader “why” behind what you do. It’s the long-term motivation or the overarching reason that drives your efforts, the inspirational reason for being and call to action for all stakeholders and how the organization provides benefit to society. In leadership, the big-picture vision, such as "to ignite and sustain the fire within". Vision is generally stable and provides a sense of meaning that endures over time. ?
2. Intention is more about the “how” and “what” in the present moment. It’s a conscious choice that influences your approach to actions in the short term. In leadership, intentions are the specific attitudes or actions you bring to daily interactions and decisions, like "to be fully present in each conversation" or "to prioritize empathy in decision-making." Intentions are dynamic and can change based on immediate needs or goals while still aligning with the vision.

It is important to have both vision and intention and vision is lost without intentions in action.

In Practice:

Think of your organization's vision as the compass and intention as each step you take in the direction it points. Vision gives you the destination, the direction that keeps you grounded over the long haul, while intention helps you stay aligned with that purpose in each moment. Together, they create a more holistic approach to meaningful leadership.

Business Research: Why Intention Matters

Leading with intention is more than a feel-good philosophy; it’s a leadership practice backed by research. Studies show that leaders who set clear intentions around purpose and values see greater engagement and productivity within their teams. Research from Harvard Business School highlights that employees are 55% more engaged when they feel connected to a leader’s vision, creating a more resilient work culture. Companies like Patagonia and Tesla are examples of how intentionality shapes company culture, aligning every strategic decision to long-term goals rather than short-term results.

Check out the HBR article here!

Intentional leadership doesn’t just improve the bottom line—it also improves team well-being. According to a study from the American Psychological Association, employees who work with intentional leaders report lower stress levels, higher job satisfaction, and a deeper sense of personal alignment with their roles. The ripple effect of this connection is powerful, promoting both productivity and loyalty.

We can all also be intentional about it personally too. What values do we want to live by, how do we want to align to our larger life’s vision and plan, what actions can we do now?

Practical Know-How: Setting Your Leadership Intention

Knowing the organizations vision is the first step. Here’s a quick three-step approach to establishing intentional leadership:

Clarify Your Vision: Begin by identifying what you stand for and where you want to lead your team. Most leadership teams we work with first say they do not have a clear leadership vision. We then help teams with this!!!

Define Daily Intentions: Break down your long-term vision into actionable daily intentions. Think about how you want to show up in each meeting or interaction.

Check-in and Reflect: Intentions are dynamic and should evolve. Set aside time to reflect on how well you’re staying aligned with your values. Adjust as needed to remain focused and responsive.

Where there is no vision, there is no clear line of sight on where to paddle. Deliberate purposeful leadership ensures the vision is clear, omnipresent, and known, missions are outlined, and deliberate action plans are described so everyone can align with intention around larger goals making the path forward easier for everyone.

Wisdom Traditions: Ancient Insights on Intention

Across wisdom traditions, intention is viewed as a guiding force that shapes life’s outcomes. In Buddhism, intention is a central element that differentiates mindful actions from reactive ones. In yoga philosophy, setting an?intention, before practice is seen as a way to focus the mind and connect to deeper purpose. Indigenous cultures similarly emphasize intention, seeing it as a way to harmonize one’s life with the natural world and the community.

The common thread is the emphasis on alignment; in these traditions, intention is not a goal in itself but a conscious choice to walk in harmony with one’s values, community, and environment. When applied to leadership, this wisdom serves as a reminder that intention is a compass. By clarifying intentions and acting with purpose, leaders are not only creating successful teams but also fostering environments where people feel meaningfully connected to their work.

Closing Thought: Just as Anna discovered, leading with intention is a practice that requires courage, reflection, and consistency. But by doing so, leaders can inspire a profound sense of purpose and drive sustainable success within their teams. Invitation to be intentional and watch how it transforms your moments and leadership journey.

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ARE YOU AN ENTREPRENEUR? We want to hear from you! ??

In an effort to continuously grow upon our understanding of leadership and play, we are working with universities to survey entrepreneurs.

The power of research is truly incredible.

Taking the time to understand what is happening in the current moment is so important. Time changes things, people, and places meaning what we knew before may not be the same as what we could know now.

For this survey we are exploring how entrepreneurs perceive play, creativity and authenticity within the context of running ventures.

If you are an entrepreneur, please take 5 minutes to complete our survey.

It is completely anonymous and will help us better understand the role of play, creativity and authenticity in today’s entrepreneurial contexts.

Thank you for your time.

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE

UNLOCK THE SECRETS TO INTENTIONAL HIRING!

Join Catherine Bell, celebrated author and CEO of The Awakened Company, in our latest webinar, Mastering the Art and Science of Hiring. Learn how to hire not just for skills but for alignment with your team’s purpose and values. Take the next step in leading with intention.

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In Mastering The Art and Science of Hiring, you’ll learn:

• How to implement awakened hiring principles that foster a thriving organizational culture.
• Effective strategies for attracting candidates who resonate with your values and vision.
• Insider tips on job descriptions, screening, interviewing, and onboarding from a seasoned recruiter.

Special Early Bird Discount:

For a limited time, take advantage of our Early Bird Special and get $100 off – making the total $400 USD! Secure your spot now before this offer ends on November 30th!

Why Attend?

• Learn from the best: Catherine R Bell brings a wealth of knowledge from hiring hundreds of leaders and interviewing thousands of candidates. She has successfully built award-winning teams.
• Invest in growth: Building the right team is key to your company’s long-term success.

By attending Mastering The Art and Science of Hiring, you’ll gain actionable insights that can be applied immediately to improve your recruitment process.

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Love,

Catherine R Bell, MBA

Founder?