Most Teams Avoid This Level of Leadership… But They Didn’t.
I had the opportunity to spend time with a leadership team recently, and I keep thinking about them.
Not because they had everything figured out, but because of how they showed up.
From the start, there was a different presence in the room. This was not a group looking for answers or direction. It was a group willing to turn inward, to reflect, and to grow.
As we worked together, it became clear their mission truly matters. You could hear it in how they spoke about their work and the people they serve. Their commitment went beyond tasks or initiatives. It was rooted in impact, in people, and in something larger than any one individual.
This is what Level 6 looks like in real life.
This energy shows up in quiet but powerful ways. They listen to each other and create space for one another’s strengths. They continue to come back to the question of what is best for the whole, not just what is easiest at the moment.
What stayed with me, though, was not just their connection to that level, but their willingness to go beneath it.
They did not avoid the harder parts of leadership. They named them.
They spoke openly about the moments when fear creeps in, when it feels easier to avoid a hard conversation, and when doubt quietly suggests you might not be enough. They acknowledged the tendency to overthink, to hold back, and to wait for things to feel perfect before taking action. They recognized what happens when stress rises, and defensiveness follows, when assumptions take hold, and when frustration turns into quiet judgment or outward reaction. (Levels 1 and 2)
They also reflected on the more subtle patterns. The ones that often go unnoticed because they look productive. Moving forward. Getting things done. Taking responsibility. And yet, at times, settling. Tolerating. Moving on without fully engaging. (level 3)
And then there was their care for one another. This team genuinely shows up for each other. They support, they step in, they carry weight when needed. And at the same time, they were willing to ask a deeper question. When does helping begin to turn into overextending? When does care begin to lead to burnout? (level 4)
This is what made the space feel different. No pretending. No performing. Just truth.
Then there was a moment that stayed with me. The Executive Director shared that she is committed to investing in the growth of her team by offering each of them the opportunity to have a coach. She didn’t position it as a perk or something extra. She spoke about it as something essential. Essential to their growth, their leadership, and the work they are being called to do.
And then she said something equally important.
Each individual has the choice to step into that opportunity, with the understanding that coaching only works when there is commitment. Not surface-level engagement, but a real willingness to reflect, to be challenged, and to grow.
There was something powerful in that balance. A leader creating the opportunity and valuing growth deeply, while also honoring personal ownership in the process.
That is leadership.
So many leaders talk about what leadership should be–a strong vision, aligned strategic priorities, strong management, and skillful execution. All of that matters. What drives it all, however, is the internal work of the leader. They are not trying to live at a “high level” all the time. They are learning how to navigate every level in a healthy way so that they can return to a higher level with more awareness, intention, and alignment.
They are not just talking about leadership. They are demonstrating it.
And this is where Energy Leadership and the Working Genius come to life. They give language to the internal work, clarity to how we show up, and a path forward for leading with greater awareness and intention while still getting meaningful work done.
If you are ready to do the work within and lead at a higher level, now is the time. Partner with INspired Leadership and take the next step in your leadership journey.