Spring Is Here (and so is the leadership shift you didn’t see coming…if you choose it)

If winter is the season of endurance, spring is the season of emergence. We’ve made it through the long, dark stretch, where things felt slow, heavy, and maybe even stuck. But now? The ground is shifting. Growth is happening, even if you don’t fully see it yet.

Sound familiar?

I’ve been talking a lot lately about the gap between what we expect and what happens—how real growth often feels frustrating, not exhilarating. Whether you’re representing a company or leading a team, managing your own career, or navigating a major life pivot, this in-between space can be messy. It’s one thing to set an ambitious vision; it’s another to do the gritty, often uncomfortable, work of bringing it to life.

March is a turning point. It’s the moment in the leadership cycle where clarity starts creeping in—but only if you’re willing to stop looking for instant results and start trusting in the deeper shifts taking shape. And this is a conscious CHOICE that only you can make, but the returns can have high impact.

The Leadership Layer You Didn’t Know You Needed

One of the biggest patterns I’ve noticed in my coaching work is leaders trying to push through uncertainty rather than pausing to make sense of it. I can see this clearly because I have been this person, too.

You’ve heard the phrase “hustle harder”—but what if the real leadership move was to hone your lens instead?

Great leaders don’t just power through challenges; they proactively learn to see the game differently. They know when to pivot, when to double down, and—perhaps most importantly—when to stop chasing the low-impact things altogether.

So, as we step into spring, ask yourself:

• How am I measuring success today versus the way I did six months ago—and is it time to redefine what winning looks like?

• Where have I been forcing progress (or perfection) instead of nurturing real growth?

• What’s ready to break through if I stop micromanaging every step of the process?

   

What’s New at The Lens Leadership?

The Lens Leadership evolves in alignment with the lessons I talk about. Some exciting updates:

USA Today Feature: I’m thrilled to share that The Lens Leadership was recently featured in USA Today. Check it out HERE.

Masterclass Update:

• Break Through the Noise: Clarity, Confidence, and Intention Amidst the Chaos ran in January and February to excellent reviews. This live, interactive experience (not just another webinar) helps you reset, refocus, and lead with clarity. The next session is March 27—register or share it today!

   

• The Smart vs. Wise Leadership Masterclass is coming soon! This 90-minute interactive experience will help leaders move beyond ‘smart’ decisions into truly wise leadership. Stay tuned!

   

Take the Reins Leadership Program:

• The outstanding Cohort 10 kicked off 2025, and is about to complete session 2! Cohort 11 kicks off May 23rd—early early-bird enrollment is open!

   

• Enterprise Leadership Development: Take the Reins is a high-impact program for top performers. If you're an enterprise leader, let’s discuss how it can support your team. Download the datasheet and let’s connect!

   

Web Updates:

The Lens Leadership site has a fresh look—check it out! The homepage, services, and Take the Reins pages are updated. Visit our resources section for newsletter archives, the blog, and upcoming tools.

As we step into a season of momentum, remember growth isn’t about speed—it’s about clarity.

What’s one conscious choice you’re making this spring to shift how you lead?

I’d love to hear your thoughts—reply to this email, share your take on LinkedIn, or forward this to someone who needs to hear it. And if you’re ready for a leadership breakthrough, reach out and let’s make it happen together.

~ Alison

In the corporate world, we like to talk about strategy. Goals. KPIs. But none of that matters if there is no clear vision—a guiding force that aligns people, resources, and decisions toward something greater than just hitting next quarter’s targets.

A vision matters whether you are a company or an individual.

And here’s the truth: Without a vision, there is chaos.

How to Write a Vision Statement That Actually Moves People to Action

A vision statement isn’t just a string of words that sound impressive. It’s not about what looks good on a website or what others might approve of. A real vision—the kind that fuels action—starts in the heart.

Personal Librarian: by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

This month’s recommendation is historical fiction reflecting a true story, and honors International Women’s History Month and last month’s Black History Month. My mom shared The Personal Librarian with me recently, and it’s a perfect example of leading with intention, resilience, and quiet power.

As J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle Da Costa Greene didn’t just hustled harder to rise in a world that wasn’t built for her; she honed her influence, sharpened her strategy, and made bold choices that shaped history—all while carrying the secret of her identity as a Black woman passing as white in the early 20th century.

Her leadership wasn’t about chasing every opportunity or proving herself through sheer effort. It was about leveraging relationships, mastering her craft, and knowing when to step forward and when to play the long game.

In a world that glorifies non-stop grind, Belle’s story is a powerful reminder: real leadership isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter, standing firm in your choices, and strengthening the impact that matters.

Highly recommend!

“Champions don’t become champions in the ring—they are merely recognized there. The real work is done far away from the lights.” – Joe Frazier

Where in your leadership (or life) have you been sprinting when you might see better results by shifting to intentional, sustainable strength?

FEBRUARY Exclusive

Early, early-bird rates are open now through March 31, 2025 for the next Take the Reins leadership experience, beginning May 23rd. 

Click here for more information, or feel free to ask me about it!

Master Yoda

Jedi Grandmaster | Wisdom Keeper | Leadership Guide

Yoda, what's important about slowing down the pace and finding intention in leadership?

Rush, you must not. A leader who hurries sees only the next step, but not the path. In stillness, clarity is found. In intention, strength grows. Like the Jedi, leaders must not react in haste but move with wisdom. When the mind is quiet, choices become clear. Act not from fear or urgency—act from purpose.

Can you share an example of a time when you hustled too hard for a win, and it backfired? What new choice did you make?

In training young Skywalker, rush I did. Thought skill alone would shape him. Blind was I to the fear growing within. Too much push, too little trust. The outcome? A fall to the dark side. To correct course, teach patience I did. Guide, not force. With Luke, learned I that true strength comes not from relentless drive, but from deep understanding.

What is a leadership lesson you have earned that you'd like to share with our readers?

Great leaders, great learners they are. Certain of all things, do not be. Humble, stay. Open, remain. Failure is not defeat—it is the teacher of wisdom. Fear leads to control, but trust leads to connection. Lead not by power, but by presence. When strong in the Force of self-awareness you are, strong leader you become.
 

May the leadership force be with you. 🌟

*This month’s Guest Leader was written in collaboration with ChatGPT4

📩 Contact: The Force, it will find you

(image credit: Vincent Hie Productions)

The Intentional Shift

This month, I challenge you to swap one act of hustle for an act of intentional strength.

Step 1: Identify one area where you’ve been pushing hard but not seeing the results you want. (A work project? Networking? Personal goals?)

Step 2: Instead of doubling down on effort, shift your approach—pause, reassess, and ask: What’s the smartest, most sustainable way forward?

Step 3: Take one action this week that leans into clarity and intention rather than sheer force. Maybe that means delegating, setting a boundary, or choosing depth over speed.

Then, observe and notice what happens that may be different than usual. Does the shift in approach create more impact? More energy? A fresh perspective?

Bonus: Share your insights with me on LinkedIn or reply to this email—I’d love to hear what changes for you!

This month I’ll refrain from offering a piece of audio I like. Instead, I’ll make a request, and if you choose it, I’d love to hear what you chose!

Find a long-format podcast – any podcast. Spotify, Apple, wherever you go for podcasts.

Make it a topic that interests you, but one you don’t know much about, and you’d like to learn.

Listen in the car, on a walk, wherever. Just don’t fall asleep – this is why I do this when I’m out walking on a trail! You might even consider taking notes – I do this sometimes when I really want to remember key points.

Recommendation: One of my favorite long-format podcasts is The Lex Fridman Podcast. Lex, a worldly AI researcher at MIT, has managed to bring on leaders from around the world in a wide variety of areas: science, technology, tech, philosophy, love, and power.