Stop Just "Doing." Start Leading with Wise Action.

As a leadership coaching professional in Melbourne, I've seen firsthand how many leaders mistake constant motion for progress. We manage a steady stream of emails, jump from meeting to meeting, and put out fires all day long. But at the end of the day, do we feel a true sense of accomplishment? More importantly, are we truly leading?

The most effective leaders don't just "do"—they act with intention and purpose. They move from a reactive state to one of strategic, purposeful action. I call this wise action, and it's a practice that can transform your leadership, your team, and your results. It's a fundamental concept I explore with my clients in leadership coaching.

Wise action isn't a single event; it’s a three-part framework. By cultivating these three pillars, you can shift from a "doer" to a genuine leader.

1. Be Clear on Your Intention

Before you start any project, have any conversation, or make any decision, ask yourself one simple question: "What is my intention here?"

Think of intention as your leadership compass. Without it, you're just reacting to the winds and waves of the day. A clear intention, on the other hand, gives you a North Star. It provides a filter for every action you take, helping you prioritise what truly matters and say no to what doesn't.

For leaders, this looks like:

• Before a team meeting, clarifying your intention: "My intention is to align the team on the project's new goal, not just to share updates."

• Before giving feedback to an employee, defining your intention: "My intention is to help this person grow and succeed, not just to criticise."

• Before attending the network event, get clear on your story: "My intention is to share my new project with three people to inspire interest."

When your actions are guided by a clear "why," they gain power and purpose. This foundational work is often where we start in leadership coaching.

2. Connect with Others

Leading in a vacuum is a recipe for failure. Wise action is rarely a solitary pursuit. It requires you to step outside your own perspective and deeply connect with the people you are leading. This isn't just about collaboration; it's about genuine empathy and understanding.

This pillar means you need to:

• Listen to understand, not to reply. Pay attention to your team's concerns, ideas, and challenges. Their insights can prevent missteps and uncover opportunities you never saw coming.

• Seek diverse perspectives. Acknowledge that your way isn't the only way. The wisest solutions often come from a collective understanding of a problem.

• Build trust. Trust is the foundation of every successful team. When your team trusts that your intentions are genuine and that you value their input, they'll be more willing to commit to shared goals.

Connection moves you from a position of authority to one of influence.

3. Integrate Reflection and Learning

The final pillar of wise action is a crucial feedback loop. In the rush to the next task, we often forget to pause and reflect on what just happened. Yet, it's in this reflection that we uncover the most valuable lessons.

Wise leaders don't see mistakes as failures but as data points. They use reflection to ask questions like:

• Did that action have the intended effect?

• What did I learn from that outcome?

• What could I have done differently to achieve a better result?

By creating a habit of reflection, you turn every experience—good or bad—into a learning opportunity. This process fuels continuous improvement, ensuring that your actions get smarter, more effective, and more aligned with your intentions over time.

Ready to Cultivate Wise Action in Your Leadership?

The journey to becoming a leader who takes wise action isn't a quick fix. It's a practice that requires conscious effort and a commitment to growth.

If you're ready to move beyond the daily grind and lead with greater purpose and impact, a dedicated leadership coaching program with me can help. A coach provides the framework, accountability, and personalised feedback you need to truly integrate these principles. It's a powerful investment in your professional growth.

So, the next time you feel the urge to just "do," I challenge you to pause. Take a moment to check your intention, connect with the people involved, and create a plan for reflection. This small shift can make a monumental difference in your leadership and the impact you have on the world.

"Action isn't a burden to be hoisted up and lugged around on our shoulders. It is something we are. The work we have to do can be seen as a kind of coming alive. More than some moral imperative, it's an awakening to our true nature, a releasing of our gifts" - Joanna Macy.