What if the most powerful tool you have as a leader isn’t a framework or a playbook—but your next choice? We unpack the mindset shift that turns overwhelm into agency by reframing leadership as a series of intentional decisions you make every day, not a title you hold. From the first “yes” to the role, to defining your values, to adapting your style without losing your integrity, we break down how to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose when the stakes are real and the variables keep changing.

You’ll learn how to:

• Clarify your values to define how you show up
• Balance fairness with flexibility
• Move beyond the myth of one “best” leadership style
• Apply situational awareness and adaptive behaviors
• Use a simple reflection reset to realign your choices

The Power of the Pause is a simple, repeatable way to reset when you feel off course: recommit to the role you chose, restate your values in plain language, and scan the current situation to match your style to the moment. It’s a shift from reacting to choosing—and that choice compounds into better culture, clearer priorities, and stronger results. If this conversation helps you find even a small breath of space to lead with intention, share it with a peer who needs the same reset.

If you found today’s episode helpful, don’t forget to like, follow/subscribe, and share!

Ready to begin your own leadership journey or have questions? Visit 7bigconsulting.com to schedule your complimentary discovery call today. Begin transforming your leadership journey with the clarity to lead and the confidence to succeed.

Aligning Values with Responsibility

Authentic leadership is about finding the balance between staying true to yourself and honoring the responsibilities of your role. When leaders show up authentically, they build trust, foster engagement, and reduce the risk of burnout. In this episode of Shelley on Your Shoulder, Shelley Saeger and Drew explore how authentic leadership emerges during challenging situations and offer practical guidance for developing your own authentic leadership style.

Key insights from the episode:

• Authentic leadership balances personal truth with professional responsibility. It’s about honoring both your identity and your role.
• Research proves the impact. Studies show authentic leadership significantly boosts employee engagement and retention.
• Challenging moments reveal authenticity. Delivering difficult news often exposes whether a leader’s actions align with their values.
• The struggle is real. Leaders face discomfort when asked to communicate messages they don’t fully believe.
• The “moment of truth.” Authenticity is tested when personal values appear to conflict with organizational responsibilities.
• Authenticity ≠ license for poor behavior. It’s about alignment between personal integrity and organizational needs—not unchecked self-expression.
• Three steps to authentic leadership:
  1. Deepen your self-knowledge.
  2. Define your leadership brand.
  3. Allow your approach to evolve over time.
• Honest vulnerability matters. Teams remember leaders who acknowledge challenges while still supporting organizational direction.

When leaders choose authenticity, they earn trust and loyalty that lasts well beyond the moment. Teams value leaders who communicate honestly, show vulnerability, and align their actions with both personal values and organizational goals.

If you found today’s episode helpful, don’t forget to like, follow/subscribe, and share!

Ready to begin your own leadership journey or have questions? Visit 7bigconsulting.com to schedule your complimentary discovery call today. Begin transforming your leadership journey with the clarity to lead and the confidence to succeed.

Leadership confidence is what turns vision into action. It’s the steady bridge that allows ideas to move from inspiration to execution. True confidence is more than charisma—it’s presence, resilience, and authentic self-belief that inspires others to follow willingly. Unlike arrogance, which is rooted in ego, real confidence is grounded in self-awareness and experience. This creates the magnetic pull that transforms skeptics into supporters and empowers teams to go further.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Confident leaders carry presence. They demonstrate awareness, decisiveness, and the ability to adapt under pressure.
• Confidence has many styles. Some leaders are bold and outspoken, while others are quieter but equally direct and effective.
• Resilience fuels confidence. Abraham Lincoln’s leadership confidence was built through years of failure, persistence, and growth.
• Confidence vs. arrogance. True confidence is rooted in reality, data, and self-awareness—not unfounded bravado.
• People know the difference. Teams instinctively sense when a leader’s confidence is genuine or false.
• Confidence influences effort. Followers decide how much discretionary energy they’ll invest based on their leader’s confidence.
• Three keys to building leadership confidence:
  1. Develop deep self-awareness.
  2. Abandon perfectionism.
  3. Gain clarity about your role and expectations.

Leadership confidence isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about cultivating the presence and resilience to guide others through uncertainty. When leaders show up with grounded confidence, they create space for trust, innovation, and collective success.

If you found today’s episode helpful, don’t forget to like, follow/subscribe, and share!

Ready to begin your own leadership journey or have questions? Visit 7bigconsulting.com to schedule your complimentary discovery call today. Begin transforming your leadership journey with the clarity to lead and the confidence to succeed.