July Recap | The Experience of Leadership

Looking back on July, one idea kept resurfacing.

Leadership is not simply what we do. It is what other people experience because of us.

As leaders, we spend a great deal of time thinking about strategy, communication, and execution. Yet the lasting impact of leadership is often shaped by something much less tangible. How people feel after an interaction. Whether they leave with more confidence or more uncertainty. Whether trust grows or quietly erodes.

The more conversations I had this month, the more convinced I became that leadership is experienced before it is evaluated.

The rest of this article will diverge a bit from the others this month, as I’ll summarize a few of the conversations and moments that stood out.

This month’s articles explored leadership through the lens of experience rather than performance.

Articles published this month:

• The Leader You Think You Are Is Not the Leader They Experience

• The Most Important Conversation About Your Leadership Happens Without You

• The Most Dangerous Leadership Blind Spot Is Thinking You No Longer Have Blind Spots

July included conversations with leaders across industries, each reinforcing the importance of clarity, credibility, executive presence, and sustainable leadership.

• Thinkers360 Thought Leader and Influencer Interview

Honored to be awarded with the following Thinkers360 badges:

Issued by Thinkers360: The holder of this credential has undergone a rigorous, data-driven validation of their professional expertise within this category. Unlike traditional social media influence rankings, this Thinkers360 Expert Certification is awarded based on a comprehensive audit of real-world impact—including professional work experience, academic and industry certifications, published intellectual property, and peer-recognized awards. Thinkers360 evaluates experts as holistic practitioners, measuring their depth across diverse personas such as advisor, analyst, author, consultant, and executive, ensuring this certification represents verified subject matter mastery and a proven track record of industry contribution.

My Trip to Portland

One of the things I value most is the opportunity to strengthen relationships with people I’ve respected for years.

This month, I spent a few days in Portland reconnecting with friends and thought leaders whose work continues to inspire me.

It was a pleasure catching up in person with:

• Brandon Mergard, whose insights on leadership and organizational growth continue to challenge conventional thinking.'

  

• Ken Cook and David Baer, whose perspectives always leave me with new ideas and fresh questions.

As I think about the conversations ahead, I find myself returning to a different question.

If leadership is something people experience, then what creates that experience? Is it communication? Decision-making? Culture? Or is it something deeper?

Throughout August, I’ll be exploring how leaders intentionally shape the environments around them. We’ll look beyond individual interactions to examine how everyday behaviors create culture, influence relationships, and ultimately define a leader’s legacy.

I’m looking forward to continuing that conversation with you.

#ExecutiveAbundance #Leadership #ExecutiveLeadership #ExecutivePresence #Credibility #LeadershipDevelopment #Boardroom #LeadershipGrowth