The Three Pillars of Transformation: Unlock a Shift in Life and Your Leadership
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The Journey of Transformation For Changemakers
People come to coaching with different motives—some grappling with specific issues, while others seek a path for professional or personal growth. Yet, there is a common thread among the various reasons: an unsettling feeling, like a pebble in their shoe. This discomfort quietly whispers as a signal that their current situation no longer works for them.
It’s an elusive sensation—because we become highly proficient at drowning out that signal while keeping ourselves busy in the comfort of our existing strategies. It’s a nudge that hints at the absence of flow or a subtle demand for a transformative shift in perspective. This internal yearning for change, often unarticulated, lingers as a question mark, waiting for an answer.
Enter Leadership Coaching.
The first essential element to unlocking a shift is embracing a leadership mindset. That is, understanding your essence, what you stand for, and what ultimately drives you—your ‘Why.’ Simon Sinek’s call to start with your ‘Why’ is about tapping into your values, that inner brilliance that anchors you during a storm and is your true north in darkness. Ultimately, it gives you a sense of purpose to engage in what he refers to as the infinite game.
“Human beings absolutely follow through on why they believe they are. We have a need to stay consistent with how we define ourselves.”
—Tony Robbins
The second crucial aspect of coaching for changemakers involves fostering a growth mindset. This mindset promotes the notion that talents and abilities can evolve through dedicated effort and external guidance. It views challenges as opportunities and does not see failures as defining our identity; instead, they are platforms for honing skills. Dr. Carol Dweck, who coined the concept of growth mindset, emphasizes that our natural talents serve as a starting point and not a set limit to our abilities (2015). Similarly, Malcolm Gladwell’s ‘10,000-hour rule’ underscores the potential for exceptional skill development through focused practice. In coaching, this ‘hard work’ translates into adopting new habits and beliefs while letting go of the comfort of old ways of doing and being.
“The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.”
—Henry Ford
The third vital pillar of leadership is focused intention, serving as the linchpin to the previous components. It involves delineating actionable steps aligned with your greater purpose and your defined outcome despite any inherited limiting beliefs. The premise is that what we focus on grows and amplifies. And, unlike a goal, an intention isn’t fixated on reaching a predetermined endpoint; instead, it sets a deliberate course and fosters curiosity about unforeseen opportunities that come up along the way.
“When you change the way you look at things, they things you look at change.”
—Max Planck
This coaching style, geared towards changemakers, goes beyond providing answers or strategies to everyday situations. It requires being committed to exploration through self-inquiry and vulnerability—two essential qualities that lead to experiencing shifts in ways of being and thinking that go beyond some changes. Consequently, it empowers individuals who see themselves as leaders to understand themselves better, what matters to them, and how some behaviors might get in the way of themselves or their goals.
Tactical and strategic changes often work in the short term, but this rarely lasts because it does more of the same, with some variations on the theme. Real change, the kind that comes from the inside out, feels like effortless shifts that occur along the coaching path—much like puzzle pieces, they click into place one by one as it makes sense. These shifts lead to long-lasting changes in who we are and how we show up in the world. By looking within ourselves, we have a genuine opportunity to grow into the person and leader we can be.
“Great things are done by a series of small things.”
—Vincent Van Gogh
In my coaching practice, I’ve encountered a wide variety of challenges faced by clients holding significant leadership roles. Some of these challenges have been:
Navigating the leadership landscape on their own, often feeling isolated in their decision-making
Grappling with personal or professional transitions, striving to maintain equilibrium amid change
Managing unexpected circumstances that require adapting quickly and responding strategically
Burnout and balancing professional demands with personal time to recharge
Wanting to move on to the next level but uncertain about the path
Uncertainty due to losing their footing and the clarity they had only a few months before
If you are wondering if Leadership Coaching is for you, here are some questions to consider that might give you an idea of what we might explore:
What is the area in your life where you feel the biggest sense of “being stuck” or lack of clarity?
What is the biggest change you’d like to see in your life right now that you feel is out of your reach?
What would it be like for you if you had a partner to explore options and possibilities every week?
Ultimately, coaching is about focusing on where you want to go, not so much about the past that got you here. When you take hold of the steering wheel of your personal growth journey, you will experience a calmness and clarity that compels you to move toward your goals.
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Mariano is a transformational leadership coach specializing in Personal Branding, Strategic Leadership, and Creative Action. Through his signature SHIFT approach, he helps leaders discover authentic perspectives that transform how they see themselves and their potential. His clients consistently report gaining both clarity of purpose and practical strategies that inspire meaningful action.
Ready to explore your leadership potential? Schedule a complimentary consultation to discover how we can work together toward your goals.
