How to be more of an intentional leader
From our episode with Jeff Perry
This week’s spotlight is on intentional leadership—a powerful approach that combines clarity, purpose, and action to create meaningful impact. I had the privilege of speaking with Jeff Perry, a leadership and career development coach specializing in engineers and tech professionals, to explore how intentionality can transform not just leaders, but entire teams and organizations.
Here’s a detailed look at the invaluable lessons from our conversation.
What Does it Mean to Be Intentional?
Being intentional means aligning what we do with why we do it. Jeff explains it as the difference between living reactively—letting external pressures dictate our actions—and proactively choosing a path forward.
As he beautifully puts it, “Intentional living is the art of making our own choices before other choices make us.” It’s about cultivating clarity, focusing on what truly matters, and fostering purpose-driven actions that lead to both personal and collective growth.
In leadership, intentionality creates a framework for making deliberate decisions, inspiring teams, and building a shared vision that everyone can rally around.
The Leadership Journey: From Expert to Enabler
For leaders transitioning from individual contributors to team managers, Jeff emphasizes the importance of shifting focus from personal performance to enabling others.
Challenges Leaders Face:
Identity Shift: Moving from being the “expert” to empowering the team to succeed.
Mindset Barriers: Overcoming the fear that “nobody else can do it right.”
Burnout Risks: Balancing personal workload while supporting the growth of the team.
Jeff’s advice? Start small with delegation. He shared this tip: “Delegate something small, set your team up for success, and track the results. Prove to yourself that others can deliver.” This approach not only builds trust but also enables leaders to focus on the bigger picture.
The Key to Team Success: Psychological Safety
According to Jeff, a psychologically safe environment is critical for high-performing teams. It’s not about avoiding conflict but fostering an open space where team members feel safe to:
Share ideas without fear of judgment.
Admit mistakes without facing retribution.
Offer constructive feedback that drives improvement.
Psychological safety was identified as the top factor for team success in Google’s Project Aristotle study. Jeff adds, “When teams feel safe, they don’t avoid hard conversations. Instead, they tackle them with trust and collaboration, leading to innovation and growth.”
Discovering Your Genius Zone
A highlight of Jeff’s philosophy is the genius zone—a space where unique skills, passions, and experiences intersect to create exceptional performance.
Jeff broke this down into four zones:
Incompetence: Tasks we struggle with.
Competence: Things we’re okay at but don’t excel in.
Excellence: Areas we’re skilled in but don’t find uniquely fulfilling.
Genius: Our unique strengths that bring us joy and allow us to create the most impact.
Leaders can elevate team performance by helping individuals identify and operate in their genius zones. This not only boosts productivity but also enhances job satisfaction and personal growth.
The Power of Mindset
Jeff emphasizes that intentional leadership begins with mindset. He describes mindset as the lens through which we interpret the world, influencing how we react to challenges, opportunities, and setbacks.
He shared a transformative insight: “Mindset drives behaviour, and behaviour drives results.” Many leaders focus solely on behaviour change but neglect the mindsets that underpin those behaviours. Addressing mindsets leads to lasting, sustainable growth—for both individuals and teams.
Practical Mindset Shifts:
Replace “Who’s to blame?” with “What happened, and how can we learn from it?”
Reframe setbacks as opportunities for growth.
Focus on long-term alignment between personal goals and organizational objectives.
Lessons from Delegation: Building Trust
A recurring theme in our discussion was the importance of trust in delegation. Jeff shared stories of leaders who struggled to let go of responsibilities due to fears of failure or low standards. By reframing delegation as an opportunity to empower others, they transformed not only their workload but also their teams’ growth and confidence.
For leaders hesitant to delegate, Jeff recommends small experiments: “Delegate a task, collect data, and reflect on the results. Most often, you’ll find your team is more capable than you imagined.”
Recommended Resources for Growth
Jeff shared some of the books and thinkers who shaped his journey:
Books:
The Intentional Engineer by Jeff Perry
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen
Thought Leaders: Simon Sinek, Adam Grant, and Brene Brown
Jeff’s newest book, The Intentional Career Guide to Professional Networking, focuses on building meaningful professional relationships. Available now on Amazon and Audible, it’s a concise guide for anyone looking to elevate their career.
Practical Steps for Leaders
Here’s how you can start applying intentional leadership in your own context:
Create Psychological Safety: Foster an environment where your team feels safe to express ideas, admit mistakes, and offer feedback.
Know Your Team: Understand each person’s strengths, interests, and goals to align projects with their genius zones.
Model Vulnerability: Share your intentions and areas for growth, and invite your team to do the same.
Delegate with Trust: Start small, set clear expectations, and empower your team to succeed.
Connect with Jeff
If you’re interested in learning more about Jeff’s work or his books, visit Jeff’s Website or connect with him on LinkedIn.
If you want to hear more then make sure to catch up with the full episode on either YouTube or Spotify.