Being Intentional as a Leader and Why It Matters with Gene Hammett, CEO Coach

In this episode, CEO coach Gene Hammett explores what it truly means to Be Intentional as a Leader, encouraging listeners to examine their leadership style and uncover the barriers limiting their growth. Drawing from his recent keynote at the Association of Animal Welfare Advancement, he introduces a clear two-part framework for elevating leadership, recognizing current hindrances, and defining the aspirational traits that drive stronger performance. Gene emphasizes the power of proactive, self-aware leadership in building engaged, high-performing teams and shares practical tools and resources to support deeper self-discovery and more effective, intentional leadership.

Episode Highlights & Time Stamps

2:04 The Importance of Self-Reflection
5:44 Defining Your Leadership Identity
6:59 Evolving as a Leader
8:17 The Power of Intentionality
9:40 Strategies for Effective Leadership

Identify who you're being that limits your leadership.

Most leaders fall into the same cycle: open the laptop, answer emails, run spreadsheets, jump into meetings, put out fires… and repeat. I've been there, and maybe you're stuck in that same loop, working hard, but not necessarily leading intentionally. So pause for a moment and ask yourself: What would it take for me to be a better leader? And even more importantly, why do I want to be a better leader?

Is your team performing below its potential? Do decisions keep landing back on your plate? Are you feeling overwhelmed or burned out? If so, this episode is for you.

Recently, I spoke at the Association of Animal Welfare Advancement here in Atlanta. Their leaders were deeply committed to growing, and during that keynote, I shared one core idea: the power of intention in leadership. Here's a portion of that talk:

"When you want to be a great leader, it doesn't happen by accident; it requires intention. You need the ability to shift with what's in front of you. Defining the leader you want to become may seem trivial or unnecessary, but it is foundational. Who are you being that gets in the way of being a better leader? And who do you want to become in the next level of yourself? You must be honest with yourself and claim the leader you're becoming."

Are you scattered? Distracted? Overwhelmed? Too nice? Too empathetic? Too direct? These traits may not seem harmful, but when they're dialed too high, they create friction. Write them down on a 3×5 or 4×6 card, make it honest, uncomfortable, and real. This clarity helps you move away from what no longer serves your leadership.

Define who you want to become.

One of my clients captured this beautifully: Be decisive. Be focused. Be confident.
Each week during our coaching sessions, we review how these traits showed up. This repetition creates accountability and reinforces their development.

This is the work of intentional leadership, continuously evolving and expanding your capacity. Whether you're a CEO, founder, or senior leader, complacency kills performance. Growth requires reinvention.

If you're new here, I'm Gene Hammett, CEO, coach, founder, and leadership development expert. We help executives and leadership teams create environments where people perform at their best, take ownership, and feel aligned with the mission.

If you want to explore these ideas further without committing to a call, join my free training at training.corelevation.com. In about 90 minutes, we cover core principles, common mistakes, and the five steps to becoming a stronger, more intentional leader.

To close today's episode, remember this: Being intentional is a superpower.
Reactive leadership limits performance. A simple example comes from sales: smile before you dial. People can sense your energy even without seeing you. That's the intention at work.

Imagine showing up 90–95% of the time as the leader you want to be decisive, focused, confident… or whatever traits matter most to you. One of my favorite examples from a client is the phrase: unshakably confident. Picture that being you. It's possible if you choose to lead with intention.

If I can support you in any way, keep following our content, keep stepping up, and remember: when you think of growth and leadership, think of Growth Think Tank.

Key Takeaways

• Great leadership never happens by accident it requires intention.
• Break the reactive work cycle by pausing to reflect on why you want to grow.
• Part 1: Define who you're being today that l