3.2 Why Am I a Leader?

It is crucial to understand the motivations underpinning our leadership. Reflect on the following:

Q: Do I feel I have something special to offer?

Q: Am I pursuing status and rewards?

Q: Am I driven by the power and control it offers?

Q: What does being a leader say about me?

Finally, ask yourself: What is my purpose as a leader?

Next: 3.3 What Are My Values?

Tom’s Reflections on These Questions

These questions go to the heart of your journey as a leader. In essence, why are you on this journey?

I know many leaders who simply got promoted because they were there.

Others actively seek leadership roles because they feel they have something special to offer.

Still others want the power and status that goes with such roles.

Why does this matter? Because ultimately, the “why you are on your journey” will feed into each and every interaction and decision.

If you are in it for the money, do you really care what happens to the organisation after you leave?
Are the decisions more optimised for short-term gain than long-term sustainability?

If, instead, you truly believe in the organisation’s mission different timescales may inform your decision-making. CEOs in US publicly listed company make for an interesting study. CEO to average worker pay ratios are trending upward, but average tenure is dropping. Along with the short-term focus of public markets, this trend is likely shortening decision horizons.

Remember, our choices as leaders are never isolated. They ripple through the organisation, community and society, shaping our collective future.

Programme Overview

The Curious Leaders programme is designed to foster a deep sense of curiosity about who you are as a person and as a leader. It challenges you to reflect on what you can do each day to become a more effective leader. The premise is that before we can truly lead others, we first need to lead ourselves.

It thus ultimately starts with self-leadership. This is about building a practice of reflection and action whereby we become increasingly curious about how our thinking is impacting our actions. This is the first step in building a world in which curiosity shapes leadership.

In this world, leaders aren’t boxed in by traditional thinking or established playbooks. They are open to fresh ideas and diverse perspectives, fostering a culture of exploration and learning. In truth, nurturing curiosity in leadership is essential if we are to address the key challenges of the 21st century.

Tom’s innate ability to listen and empathise enabled me to relax and really explore the issues that were causing me some anxiety. Our sessions provided me with an enhanced sense of self-awareness and a considered plan of action. The benefits in terms of relationships and self-confidence this process has given me are invaluable, in both work and life in general!

Testimonial from Sean

I went for coaching with Tom, without knowing what I wanted but knowing that I needed some help after having a number of setbacks with interviews. By the end of the first session, I was beginning to realise my problems. By the end of the second session, I was beginning to realise what I wanted. In our final two sessions, Tom helped me to identify a strategy for achieving my goals.
I thoroughly enjoyed our sessions. Tom listened without judgement, guided without being opinionated and ultimately helped me to help myself. You can’t ask more from a coach.

Testimonial from Paul

I didn’t think I had a specific need for a coach, however, having met Tom outside of our professional roles we decided to set up a coaching programme. I’m delighted we did. Tom’s approach is based on taking it slow, listening first and asking questions you won’t have thought of second. The latter always result in positive actions to take away and implement immediately. Now, I’m really looking forward to continuing our working relationship.

Testimonial from James Crothall, Account Director at AMO DIGITAL

I’ve been catching up with Tom for now, over three years. It is a moment where I’m able to create space away from the noise and the busyness of my life to really tackle whatever is top of my mind. This can be on the professional side and can be on my personal side. My conversations with Tom are really conversations we have dialogues that we have, and a walk away from these meetings with clarity around ideas of how to convey pragmatically and practically tackle some of the challenges and the issues which I wanted to discuss with Tom. But I think more importantly, with a greater degree of confidence in my ability to solve for these topics. I’ve been really enjoying my catch up with Tom I hope to continue to do so in the future and I highly recommend anybody to give it a go.

Testimonial from Tommaso

Testimonial from Sean, Ireland

Testimonial from Paul, Ireland