What Being the Best Possible Leader Is About
Why is living a full life so hard?
Why does it sometimes feel like a constant battle to reach our potential – to make the impact we know we’re capable of?
The problem is, we’re navigating a perfect storm of challenges.
First, we’re incredibly complex beings – shaped by our biology, psychology, upbringing, environment, and the choices we make every day, informed or not.
Then, we’re trying to operate in a world that’s changing faster than ever. And while there’s endless advice out there, who really has the time – or mental bandwidth – to figure out what actually works? It’s no wonder so many of us feel stuck.
We’re born without an instruction manual. Handed this extraordinary, intricate machine – our mind and body – and told to figure it out as we go. But what if we had one?
What we’ve done
We’ve brought together and built upon some of the great ideas and research from across the years to create an accessible, adaptable concept called Being the Best Possible Leader. Think of it as your personal user manual, a guide that helps you move through life with greater clarity and purpose.
It’s about achieving three things that truly matter: greater success, genuine wellbeing, and lasting positive impact.
The aim is steady growth toward the best version of ourselves. At its heart sits a belief many people find energising: everyone is a leader.
Leadership starts with how we lead ourselves – our thoughts, time, and energy – and naturally extends to every role we play, at work and in life.
Real leadership isn’t about control. It's about creating conditions where success, wellbeing, and positive impact can grow for ourselves and those around us.
What being the best possible leader involves
Way One: Stepping back to identify and seize potential
Think of it as
Our reflective habit and glasses for seeing more clearly.
Way One is the practice of stepping back from the busyness of daily life so we gain clarity and turn the unknowns into knowns.
It’s like being a scout: we have to climb to higher ground to see the full landscape – the bigger picture. From that vantage point, patterns stand out. Opportunities that were hidden begin to show themselves. We spot early signs of challenges before they grow.
This shift gives us foresight. It helps us look beyond the immediate noise and imagine what could be possible. People who make time for this kind of reflection make smarter choices about where to focus their energy – and are better at spotting ideas for innovation, growth, and improvement.
Stepping back also moves us from reacting to action. Clarity grows through repetition. When we build this habit, you stay aligned with what we care about and ready to act on the opportunities that matter most.
Way Two: Utilising and developing our Leadership Core
Think of it as
Our Core – our command centre, engine and fuel that powers a purposeful and fulfilling life.
Our core is multifaceted – part command centre, part engine, part fuel. It’s what powers and directs our life. Being intentional with it is how we make the most of your precious time and energy.
It acts as an inner compass – guiding, energising, and empowering us to live with purpose and lead across every area of our lives. It shapes how we show up, make decisions, take action, and navigate an increasingly complex world.
It’s made up of 3 interconnected components:
- Self-Leadership
- Core Capabilities & Behaviours
- Core Support & Resources.
1. Our Self-Leadership
Our personal operating manual – how we understand, manage, and lead ourselves.
It's the ongoing practice of understanding who we are, how we want to be known, and what we want. Recognising where we thrive, managing ourselves well, and evolving through insight, disciplined action, and steady follow-through.
2. Our Core Capabilities & Behaviours
These are the essential, transferable skills that amplify performance in every role we play. They include the ability to think critically, focus our time and energy on what matters most, prioritise ruthlessly, keep learning, take ownership, and hold ourselves accountable.
3. Our Core Support & Resources
No one leads alone. These are the ecosystems and resources that enable us. They include the people, tools and technologies that challenge us, steady us, and help us deliver our best.
Together, these components form the foundation of intentional living and authentic leadership – helping us lead ourselves first, so we can lead everything else better.
Way Three: Striving to be the best we possibly can and want to be in our different roles, relationships, tasks and activities in life
Think of it as
Our means of execution – where the rubber hits the road. This is where intention turns into action.
This is where our Leadership Core expands outwards into each role we play. Shaping how we behave, connect, and create impact across our work, relationships, and wider life.
Striving to be the best possible involves
- Knowing our unique value in each role and relationship – playing to our strengths.
- Setting clear, shared expectations — being crystal clear with other people about what we need from them and what they can expect from us.
- Defining what ‘best’ looks like for every role or task, and aligning it with the realities of time, energy, and resources.
- Deepening mutual understanding with our stakeholders – knowing them, and helping them know us.
- Delivering on commitments together – using enablers, addressing constraints, and acting on feedback.
- Reviewing, adapting, and evolving as circumstances change.
Above all, it’s about staying attuned to our real impact – on people, teams, and the world around us. Knowing our actions create ripples. Because leadership isn’t just what we do; it’s what others experience through us.
The Three Main Ways work together
Way One
Our reflective habit and glasses to see more clearly.
Giving us greater clarity. A map of possibilities for ourselves and those around us, today and into the future.
Way Two
Our command centre, engine and fuel that powers a purposeful and fulfilling life.
It’s about living with intention – knowing who we are, what matters most, and which opportunities and roles truly align with our energy, capabilities, and support systems.
Way Three
Our means of execution – where intention meets action.
It’s about showing up deliberately in every role, relationship, and responsibility. Striving to be our best in how we think, act, and lead.
The Three Main Ways reinforce each other in a continuous cycle
The more we take action, the more feedback we gain – leading to sharper clarity. Greater clarity strengthens our core. And a stronger core empowers us to show up even more effectively.
This isn’t abstract theory. It leads to real, measurable growth — in performance, relationships, purpose, and fulfillment.
We don’t need to master it all at once. Each Way evolves over time. Because the journey to becoming the best possible leader always begins with a single, intentional step.
You've got one shot at life
Maximy it!
Discover how we can help you and/or your organisation with your leadership journey to enhance your impact today.