If you’re a senior leader, you’ve already mastered logic. Spreadsheets bow to you. Decks salute you. And yet - some decisions still feel lifeless. Momentum stalls. Teams deliver, but the work doesn’t sing.
Here’s the overlooked lever in executive coaching: lead with desire. Then aim your logic at building it. This post breaks down a simple playbook any leader can use this quarter.
1) Clarify Desire (this is your north)
Desire is the direction you actually want - before market proof, before consensus. Examples:
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“I want to scale without sacrificing craft.”
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“I want to free my mornings for deep work.”
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“I want a culture where people leave meetings with more energy than they entered.”
Write yours in one sentence. This drives everything.
Free guide: Core Beliefs → Freedom
Spot and shift the beliefs that keep you stuck. Practical, concise.
2) Give Logic its Real Job
Logic is your best operator. Its mandate is twofold: guard against extreme risk and design the path. Ask it to specify constraints (runway, thresholds), then map the first three moves. When logic becomes a builder instead of a bouncer, decision-making speeds up without amputating vision.
3) Expect the “Transition Signal”
Periods of low energy, boredom, or enforced slowing (e.g., poor sleep) aren’t always problems; they’re messages. Treat them as an executive offsite with yourself: What is this season telling me to end, begin, or learn? In coaching, we call this the transition signal. Listening prevents you from fixing the symptom while missing the cause.
4) Use the Right-Next-Step Method
Hold your desire, then choose a right next step you can complete in 24 hours. Small counts: hydration, a 30-minute block of protected time, a yes/no decision that removes drag. Stack right-next-steps and momentum compounds. Leaders who practice this report lower anxiety and higher execution quality within weeks.
5) Build Collaborative Intelligence (Without Identity Cages)
Frameworks like DISC can upgrade collaboration fast, especially in cross-functional teams. Use them to understand how colleagues decide and communicate, then adjust your style accordingly. Just don’t outsource your identity to a four-letter label; these tools capture a moment, not your future.
Practical 7-day sprint
Day 1: Draft a one-sentence desire for the next 90 days.
Day 2: Ask logic for constraints and your first three moves.
Day 3: One conversation you’re avoiding.
Day 4: One friction removal (calendar, process, or tooling).
Day 5: 30 minutes of deep work on your desire project.
Day 6: Improve one collaboration using a framework insight.
Day 7: Review momentum; pick the next right step.
This is executive coaching in action: align desire, organise logic, and move daily. Do this for a month and your decision-making will feel lighter, faster, and more you.
