Strengthen Your Foundation: What’s Grounding You Now?

In leadership, we often talk about momentum — moving forward, driving change, accelerating results. Just as important, and often overlooked, is the question: What’s holding you steady?

Your foundation (the core of what you believe, how you lead and why you do what you do) doesn’t always show up with fanfare. It’s revealed in stress, in tough decisions and in how you act when no one’s watching. Like any structure built to last, your leadership needs intentional grounding.

Maybe you’ve taken on a new role. Maybe you’ve experienced a setback. Maybe a team you’ve led for years suddenly feels unfamiliar. These moments test your foundation. In doing so, they often reveal the depth of who you are and how resilient you've become.

Your Leadership Foundation: A Self-Check

You don’t need a crisis to check your foundation. In fact, the best time to reflect is when things are steady; because when you know what grounds you, you're better equipped to grow.

Try asking yourself:

What recent experience has deepened your roots as a leader?

Think about a moment that stretched you — that challenged your assumptions, tested your patience or caused you to pause and reflect.

• What did it teach you about your capacity, your purpose, or your leadership identity?

• Anchor to a real moment. Root-deepening experiences are often subtle, personal and not always visible to others.

  
  

What values or principles do you find yourself returning to?

When your days are full and decisions are fast, what quietly guides you? These internal guideposts, such as accountability, courage or service, are your non-negotiables.

• When do you feel most aligned, most proud or most at peace with your choices? That’s your foundation speaking.

  
  

How have your responses evolved, and what’s stayed true?

Leadership isn’t static. You grow, and your style adapts. Certain things, however, endure.

• What parts of your leadership have matured?

• What instincts have remained solid, even through change?

  
  

Change doesn’t mean you’ve lost your way. It may mean your foundation is strong enough to flex without breaking.