The 3 C's of Leadership - Clarity, Confidence and Contemplation.

Returning fresh from a much-needed break, I have so much to share, and, more than anything, the need to reign it into bite-sized pieces.

My time away paved the way for prolonged reflection on my journey, wisdom and insights from mentors and experts, and the ever-increasing challenges of leading a business. I returned with determination in my gut to not simply share generic content, but to share my lived experiences of leading businesses and working with clients. Lessons, experiences, and considerations, with the aim of providing helpful, real-world insights that can be applied.

Regular readers will notice a little creative refresh to reflect my website (lesson one, even ex-brand people can have a brand 'wobble').

For those new to Well Purposed, here's a brief insight into my journey.

I'm a three-time founder and entrepreneur whose businesses have ranged from lifestyle to £10m+ across Wellbeing, Insights-as-a-Service (IaaS) and B2B services.

Following the loss of my last business at the end of 2023 (a story that I hope to be able to share in the future), I started Well Purposed, initially in the form of this newsletter, but increasingly taking the form of an advisory delivering strategic planning, investor readiness and market analysis, predominantly within health tech, wellness, and impact.

With the introductions done, grab a cup of tea (or coffee) and take 5 minutes to consider the 3 C's of leadership.

Clarity

I have often lacked confidence.

And in truth, that is dangerous ground for a leader.

It wasn't until my last business that I realised confidence is a by-product of Clarity.

Clarity of goals, priorities, values, and beliefs. Because once these are established and grounded in your heart, they provide a deep sense of purpose and confidence.

Without clarity, I experienced a lack of confidence in my leadership abilities, was prone to changes of direction, lacked motivation, and had no sense of conviction in my work. This ambivalence made me a poor leader.

Contrast this against leading a business where there is both personal and commercial clarity. Where there is a deep sense of purpose and focus. The result is sustained motivation, clear decision making and resilience in the face of challenges.

Confidence

Do not mistake confidence for extroversion or arrogance, in fact, confidence is feeling secure in yourself and your abilities.

And for those not naturally gifted with self-confidence, it takes time to build. Here are my three go-to quotes:

"Take a daily dose of confidence." -Unknown

"Your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude" -Michelle Obama

"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation." -Arthur Ashe

Armed with confidence, you will have a quiet assurance about your sense of direction, decision making, ability to nurture and build relationships, and in this particular context lead in a way that encourages those around you to join you on your journey.

Contemplation

Leadership is hard.

Make way for regular moments of contemplation.

I have made this a regular habit in my life; something that helped me work through the growth and challenges of my last business. It also serves me well as I navigate career and life transitions!

But as someone with insufficient time in the day, how do you add in contemplation?

The words of Harvard Professor, Joseph L. Badaracco resonate:

"Leaders practice the art of reflection in the cracks and crevices of their everyday lives to help them make better decisions day by day and problem by problem." -Joseph L. Badaracco

Through his research, he shares four design principles for contemplation.

From clarity, to confidence, to contemplation, this sequence of habits can build a solid foundation to support your leadership journey.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, and if you too, have been through a similar journey.