Many leaders feel stuck—hitting targets, meeting deadlines, and driving productivity—yet sense something is off. Teams are disengaged, turnover is high, and trust feels fragile. In response, leaders often tighten control, slipping into micromanagement and becoming frustrated that their efforts aren’t creating the culture or performance they envisioned.
What’s missing is intentionality. Leaders invest time, money, and energy, but without a clear purpose, the return feels hollow. Organizational success isn’t just about metrics—it’s about people.
Shifting from Return on Investment to Return on Intention changes the game. Success isn’t just about what we gain—it’s about how well our actions align with our values, vision, and leadership principles. Leaders who lead with intention don’t just manage—they influence outcomes and inspire others.
How to Maximize Your Return on Intention
1. Define Your Leadership Intentions
Leadership doesn’t happen by accident—it requires clarity and purpose. Take the time to define what kind of leader you want to be and the impact you want to have. Ask yourself: What do I want my team to say about my leadership? What do I want to be known for?
A practical way to reinforce your leadership intentions is to write them down and review them regularly. Make them visible—post them in your office, add them to your journal, or set a reminder to reflect on them weekly. Then, when making strategic decisions, use your intentions as a filter: Does this choice align with the leader I want to be?
Additionally, seek regular feedback from your team to ensure you’re leading in alignment with your intentions. Ask them:
- What’s working well in how I support you?
- What could I do differently to help you be more successful?
2. Align Actions with Values
Leadership intentions matter only when they are reflected in daily actions. If you say that people are your greatest asset, what are you doing to demonstrate that belief? If collaboration is a core value, how are you fostering it within your team?
To ensure alignment, consider these practical steps:
- Schedule weekly or biweekly 1:1s with your team members to check in on their development, challenges, and goals—not just their task lists.
- Recognize contributions and celebrate wins. A simple acknowledgment in a meeting or a handwritten note can go a long way toward reinforcing a culture of appreciation.
- Make space for professional growth. Whether through mentoring, training programs, or stretch assignments, investing in your team’s development shows that you value them beyond their immediate output.
- Model the behaviors you want to see. If you value transparency, communicate openly. If you want a culture of accountability, hold yourself to the standards you expect from others.
3. Make Leadership a Non-Negotiable
Leading well isn’t something you squeeze in between meetings—it requires intentional time and effort. The best leaders don’t prioritize leadership only when it’s convenient; they build it into their schedules like any other critical business function.
Here are some practical ways to make leadership a non-negotiable:
- Block out time on your calendar specifically for leadership activities—be it coaching conversations, walking the floor to connect with employees, or thinking strategically about your team’s development.
- Hold regular team meetings that go beyond project updates. Use them as opportunities to align, reinforce vision, and foster connection.
- Be present and available. Avoid the temptation to multitask in meetings or rush through conversations. A few minutes of undivided attention can significantly impact trust and engagement.
- Conduct quarterly check-ins on your leadership effectiveness. Reflect on what’s working, what’s not, and what adjustments you need to make.
Outstanding leadership doesn’t happen by default but by design and choice. Leaders prioritizing Return on Intention create workplaces where people thrive. This week, step back and ask yourself: Am I leading with intention? If not, start by taking one practical step today to align your actions with the leader you aspire to be.
