Why just be good… or even great… when you can Be Essential. We’ve heard a consistent theme over the past two decades of coaching leaders, teams and entrepreneurs in various capacities, industry sectors, and geographies--the desire to be effective, but not at the expense of being inauthentic. This perceived trade-off becomes a barrier to growth and advancement. We recognized a parallel with the management “balcony” and the leadership “balcony” levels of thinking. At the management level we see “problems” to be solved. We search for the “right” answer. At the leadership level, we differentiate some challenges as a “paradox” to be managed. Rather than limited “either/or” thinking, we learn the art of “both/and” thinking—how to reap the benefits of two choices while minimizing the downside of swinging too far in either direction. Honing our ability to identify a “problem” from a “paradox” is a first step. We view “Authentic” [or] “Effective” as a paradox. It’s like an elite athlete deciding whether to build muscle tone or improve heart and lung capacity. Our suite of coaching approaches and tools help you build your capacity for being even more authentic AND effective. We call this “The Essential Journey.” Inside-Out: Who we are is at the essence of how we lead. It can seep, trickle or even explode through us—sometimes at inopportune times. The opportunity is to intentionally and deliberately harness the essential strengths of who we are by clearly defining what “Authenticity” means for us. Outside-In: We all have an impact—the question is whether it is a valued impact. We can aspire to have “greater impact,” but what does it mean? Impacts on people and results are in the eye of the beholder, which is another paradox. Leaders can be perceived as strong at one or the other—beloved by their people or respected for the results they drive. The rare ability to be effective with both is what makes us essential. Choose to Be Essential™.