Magic in the Room #138: An Introduction to Intentional Leadership
March 6, 2023
We are kicking off a new season of Magic in the Room with a four-part series on Intentional Leadership. In this episode, Hannah, Luke, and Chris make the case that everyone is a leader, no matter their job title. Because we are all leaders, we can intentionally influence the people and situations we encounter.
We define Intentional Leadership as a three-step process:
- We notice something that could be better
- We choose how to change things for the better
- We act to make the change
By cultivating our capacity to notice, ability to choose, and courage to act, everyone can have a more significant positive impact on the world around them.
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Go Deeper:
- Read our blog post Leadership is Everywhere and Nowhere All At Once
Credits:
- This episode of Magic in the Room was recorded onsite in Big Sky, Montana
- Music by evangrimmusic.com
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Luke, Hannah, and Chris unpack the difference between being busy and being truly impactful, exploring why organizations often get stuck in high-activity, low-impact cycles. They identify five common contributors: compliance-heavy environments, resistance to change, disconnected decision-makers, fear-driven “CYA” cultures, and firefighting systems that reward heroics over long-term strategy. From there, they highlight what creates real impact: clarity of purpose, agency, curiosity, intentionality, and the discipline to question assumptions and align action with a meaningful “why.” The conversation encourages leaders to build awareness of their strengths, design systems that support healthy impact, maintain congruence between their public and private influence, and cultivate the kind of presence that can genuinely move a room.
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Chris interviews board members from the National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA) discussing the power of purpose-driven leadership within tribal organizations. Recorded at the NNAHRA annual conference, they explore themes like courage, vulnerability, accountability, community service, and fostering environments where all employees feel valued and able to contribute. They share how NNAHRA builds a supportive professional network for tribal HR leaders, encourages alignment between individual roles and tribal purpose, and creates space for courageous conversations across governance and enterprise structures. They also discuss future initiatives, including new certifications and the 2026 conference at the Hilton Village in Hawaii. The overarching message: lead with purpose, support one another, and build cultures rooted in respect, courage, and shared responsibility.