As a business owner striving to grow and excel, you don't have to leave your leadership interactions to chance. By learning to recognize, prepare for, and be intentional in your leadership opportunities, you can significantly enhance your influence and effectiveness. This is an exercise I use to turn every interaction into a meaningful leadership moment with a structured approach I call the Leadership Opportunities and Intentions Exercise.
I learned this concept from Leadership and Executive Coach Art Petty. You can turn every interaction into a meaningful leadership moment with a structured approach I call the Leadership Opportunities and Intentions Exercise.
Leadership opportunities are everywhere. They include interactions with your team, clients, partners, and even casual conversations that could impact your business. Recognizing these opportunities is the first step.
The Leadership Opportunities and Intentions Exercise helps you identify who you'll interact with and how you can prepare to make those interactions impactful.
Stakeholder awareness is one of the six 'leadership muscles'. It involves understanding the individuals and groups you can influence.
At the start of each week, I assess my upcoming interactions and identify key stakeholders. This could be anyone from a coaching client to a podcast guest or a new business contact. The goal is to focus on the most impactful interactions that require preparation.
Preparation is crucial. Once you've identified your stakeholders, consider their state of mind and how they perceive you. What are your functional objectives for the interaction? How do you want to be perceived, and how do you want them to feel during and after your meeting? Answering these questions helps you approach each interaction with a clear and intentional mindset.
Here’s a breakdown of my process:
Identify Stakeholders: Determine who you'll interact with this week.
Understand Their Perspective: Assess their current state of mind and their perception of you.
Set Objectives: Define what you need to accomplish and how you want to be perceived.
Plan Your Approach: Decide what you’ll say and do, and how you’ll handle unexpected situations.
Let me share some recent examples:
Coaching Client: I had a client navigating a stressful discussion with business partners. My goal was to guide him through without solving the problem for him. I aimed to help him gain clarity and confidence in his decision-making.
Podcast Guest: I was excited about a guest who was overwhelmed with work. I needed to be considerate and make our interaction light and productive. My intention was to ensure he felt supported and not burdened by our meeting.
New Business Contact: A mutual acquaintance introduced me to a successful business owner. I prepared by learning about his background and came to the conversation with clear questions and a genuine interest in his achievements. My goal was to be authentic and build a meaningful connection.
Unexpected events are inevitable. The key is to remain flexible while staying true to your intentions. By preparing mentally and emotionally, you can adapt to changes without losing sight of your leadership goals. This exercise isn’t about scripting every word but about setting a purposeful tone for your interactions.
You don’t have to leave leadership to chance. By recognizing and preparing for your leadership opportunities, you can be more intentional and effective. This structured approach can transform how you interact with others, enhancing your influence and leadership presence.
Every interaction is an opportunity to lead. By being intentional, you can make each one count. If you have any tools or techniques that complement this approach, I’d love to hear about them. Let's continue to grow and lead with purpose.
Check out The Business Owner's Journey podcast episode covering Leadership Opportunities and Intentions.
Download: Leadership Opportunities and Intentions Exercise
Art Petty: Leadership & Executive Coach, Author | ArtPetty.com
Nick Berry is an accomplished entrepreneur and CEO, whose track record includes founding and leading numerous companies since 2002.
He is also a mentor and coach to other entrepreneurs and business owners who are looking for a trusted (and proven) advisor.
Among peers, colleagues, staff, and clients, Nick has been referred to as both 'The Business Guy' as well as 'The Anti-Guru', due to his pragmatic approach and principled leadership.
He shares his insights and lessons learned, along with those of his expert guests,
on his podcast, 'The Business Owner's Journey'.
