Intentionality sometimes challenges my clients. For them, it is devoid of authenticity. The question is how you can be deliberate and still be authentic. Being intentional and deliberate is about making choices. We can still be our authentic selves and make mindful choices.

Intentional leaders are confident in their execution and transparent in their direction. They still allow their team flexibility on how to meet set objectives. Your team is involved in the discussion leading to the decision, and the final say is clear and concise.

Intentionality means heightened self-awareness, which can parallel what it means to be on stage acting in a play. It can seem exhausting to be “on” when acting in a play. Yet in corporate, we too have our costumes (professional dress, business casual), our stages (offices, conference rooms, and Town Hall podiums), and our scripts (presentations, conversations, coaching, and mentoring).

Intentionality also means planning and yet being prepared for the unexpected. We see this in the consulting world, where much planning and preparation takes place with the understanding that when we walk into a client to present, we are prepared to throw all our planning out of the window and deal with what is in the moment. While we may base our next move on the plans we had, we execute based on our ability to think on our feet.