You don't have to leave your leadership interactions to chance. Recognize them, prepare for them, be intentional in them, and you can sharpen your influence and effectiveness.
I learned the foundation of this concept from Art Petty, a leadership and executive coach, and I built it into a structured approach I call the Leadership Opportunities and Intentions Exercise.
Leadership opportunities are everywhere. Your team. Your clients. Your partners. Even a casual conversation could end up mattering more than you expected. Recognizing these opportunities is the first step.
This exercise helps you identify who you'll interact with and how you can prepare so you get the most out of your conversations.
Stakeholder awareness is one of the six leadership muscles. It’s understanding the individuals and groups you can influence and how.
At the start of each week, I look over my upcoming interactions and identify key stakeholders. Anyone from a coaching client to a podcast guest or a new business contact. I focus on preparing for the interactions that could matter most.
Preparation is what makes the difference. Once you know your stakeholders, think about their state of mind and how they see you. What do you need to accomplish in this interaction? How do you want to be perceived, and how do you want them to feel during and after your meeting? This is how you approach each interaction with a clear and intentional mindset.
Here’s a breakdown of my process:
Let me share some recent examples:
Coaching Client: A client was heading into a stressful discussion with his business partners. I wasn’t trying to solve it for him. I wanted to help him gain clarity and confidence in his own decision-making.
Podcast Guest: A guest came in overwhelmed with work. I was excited to host him, but I needed to be considerate of his state of mind. I kept our interaction light and productive. My intention was to make sure he left feeling supported, not burdened by our meeting.
New Business Contact: A mutual connection introduced me to a successful business owner. I did the homework. I learned about his background and showed up with clear questions and a genuine interest in his achievements. My goal was to be authentic and build a meaningful connection.
Unexpected events happen. The key is to remain flexible while staying true to your intentions. Prepare mentally and emotionally, and you can adapt without losing sight of your goals. It’s less about scripting every word and more about setting a purposeful tone before the interaction begins.
The client, the guest, and the new contact. Different people and different situations all handled using the same approach.
Every interaction is a chance to lead. Be intentional, and you make each one count.
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 American entrepreneur and business advisor, whose track record includes founding, leading, and advising award winning small businesses since 2002. He has built companies in multiple industries, hosts The Business Owner’s Journey podcast, and created the Business Alignment System™ framework that helps owner-operators scale without burning out.
After his most recent exit he founded Redesigned.Business to advise and coach to other entrepreneurs and business owners who are looking for a trusted (and proven) advisor.
Among peers, colleagues and clients, Nick has been referred to as 'The Anti-Guru', due to his pragmatic approach and principled leadership. He shares his thoughts, experience, and lessons learned each week in The Golden Thread newsletter.
