Anchored in Intent: How to Lead with Clarity and Purpose
What is your leadership intention right now—and does your team actually experience it?
Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler discuss how intention helps entrepreneurial leaders move beyond task-focused “doing” and reconnect to bigger business outcomes, relationships, and leadership reputation.
They invite you to ask, “What am I really going for?” and use that intention as an anchor for how you show up in meetings, one-on-ones, and collaborative work. They emphasize that intention should translate into observable behaviors—such as speaking last to empower others or sharing resources to be helpful—and that there’s no single right approach; choices depend on what the team and situation need.
They encourage checking whether you’re acting intentionally or on autopilot, practicing intentional behaviors until they become habits, and declaring your intentions to shape your impact. They also offer complimentary VIP coaching sessions via a link to help apply the concept to your specific scenario.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What “anchoring in intention” really means for day-to-day leadership
- How to move from reactive, task-driven leadership to purposeful, proactive leadership
- How your intention directly informs how you show up in meetings, one-on-ones, and collaborative sessions
- Why practicing intentional behaviors builds lasting leadership habits
- How to declare your leadership intention and start creating impact today
Whether you’re a founder, team lead, or entrepreneurial leader ready to level up, this episode gives you the mindset shift and practical tools to lead with greater clarity, connection, and confidence
00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup
00:22 Why Intention Matters
01:02 From Busywork to Bigger Goals
03:07 Intention and Leadership Reputation
04:09 Turning Intention Into Behaviors
06:16 Adapting Your Style to the Moment
08:22 Automatic Pilot vs Acting Intentionally
09:36 Practice Builds New Habits
10:52 Coaching Offer and Closing
About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment.
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