How overwhelmed leaders can develop strategic priorities and regain executive focus
through intentional leadership calibration
Dear Change Leader,
“I’m being pulled in 1,000 directions, and I feel that I should be responsive to everyone and everything,” a CEO shared with me last week, her voice carrying the weight of six months of relentless disruption.
Sound familiar? If you’re reading this in early July, you’ve likely survived the first half of 2025—a period that has tested every leader I know. The constant barrage of urgent decisions, shifting priorities, and competing demands has left many feeling scattered and reactive.
But here’s an opportunity to consider: summer often brings a subtle shift in organizational rhythm. Even amidst ongoing pressures, there may be small pockets of space—a lighter meeting schedule, key people taking time off, or simply the psychological permission that summer traditionally offers to step back and take stock.
The Gift of Summer Awareness for Executive Leadership
This season isn’t about solving everything or making dramatic changes. It’s about becoming aware of the pattern that’s been driving you, and then taking small steps that help you become, and stay, more focused.
Take a moment to notice: When did you last pause to ask not “What’s urgent?” but “What actually matters most?” When did you last choose your response rather than simply react to the latest crisis?
The truth is, you’ve likely been navigating by urgency rather than intention. And while that may have been necessary for survival, it’s not sustainable for effective leadership.
The Art of Leadership Calibration
Your “true north” is the intersection of your organization’s core mission with your priorities as a leader. It’s your leadership compass when everything else feels chaotic and confusing.
But finding it requires more than a quick, daily check-in. It requires calibration—the practice of regularly aligning your actions with what truly matters, using multiple time horizons to do so.
Think of calibration like tuning an instrument. A guitar doesn’t stay in tune after being tuned just once; it requires regular adjustment to maintain its sound. Your leadership focus works the same way.
Your Summer Calibration Practice for Leadership Development
Use these slower summer weeks to establish a rhythm that will serve you well leading into Fall:
- Monthly: Spend 30 minutes asking, “Given everything happening in our environment, what are our 2-3 most critical objectives this month?”
- Weekly: Before Monday’s first meeting, review those monthly objectives and ask, “What specific progress do we need to make this week?”
- Daily: Before you begin your day, glance at your weekly focus and ask, “How do I want to show up today to advance what matters most?”
This isn’t about rigid planning—it’s about developing the habit of conscious orientation. When urgent demands inevitably arise, you’ll find yourself more easily asking: “How does this serve our true north?”
Your Summer Challenge for Leadership Growth
Between now and early September, I invite you to practice this calibration rhythm without judgment. Some weeks you’ll nail it; others you’ll forget completely. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s about developing the muscles of regularly asking these orienting questions!
The storms of the first half of this year haven’t stopped. But you can use these summer weeks to refine and strengthen your sense of direction before the intensity of Fall arrives.
Until next time,
P.S. Perhaps the most valuable thing you can do this summer is to have an honest conversation with an experienced coach about what “true north” actually means for you and your organization right now. If this is something you’d value, I’d welcome the chance to explore it with you.
About Leadership Coaching with Michael Randel
Michael Randel works with leaders and their teams as they navigate complex change. Through individualized leadership coaching and team development programs, he helps them build the skills needed for effective change leadership in disruptive times.
Ready to develop your leadership calibration skills? Contact Michael to explore how executive coaching can support your leadership growth.
Real Leadership in Action: From Crisis to Renewal
What happens when a leader inherits a demoralized staff team and a support structure weakened by turnover? This is what my client James faced when he took on an interim leadership role at a prestigious university.
“I discovered that nearly all central support infrastructure had disappeared,” he shared. “My challenge was twofold: rebuild the operational backbone while simultaneously restoring faculty morale.“
Traditional leadership programs couldn’t address his unique crisis. But through personalized coaching that met him exactly where he was, James discovered something crucial: “There are moments in leadership where it feels lonely. I learned you don’t have to shoulder the entire burden of difficult decisions alone.”
The result? A completely rebuilt department infrastructure and a resilient faculty culture that outlasted his interim role.
Want to see how James navigated this complex challenge? [Learn more about his story and discover the specific approaches that made the difference →]
Sometimes the most valuable leadership lessons come from seeing how others have walked through similar terrain. James’s story offers insights for any leader rebuilding in the aftermath of disruption.
EFFECTIVE CHANGE RESULTS FROM INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP
We’re a leadership and organization development consultancy. My team and I work with leaders like you to prepare for and lead successful change processes.
Here’s why our clients call us:
- Leadership Coaching: I support leaders as they navigate transitions into new roles or expanded responsibilities.
- Group Coaching and Learning Programs: Bringing groups of leaders together, I facilitate learning experiences and months-long programs that equip people to be effective change leaders.
- Effective Teams and Stronger Organizations: I work with leaders and their teams with tailored processes that increase their effectiveness, building layers of aligned teams that transform organizations.