Awaken the Giant: A Transformative Leadership Journey

Understanding the Essence of Leadership

I wanted to share the incredible journey of the Awaken the Giant programme and how it came to be. Over the past few months, as I’ve worked with leaders from various organisations, a fascinating pattern emerged. Many of these leaders had clear abilities, solid qualifications, and a wealth of experience. Yet, despite their impressive backgrounds, they often struggled to leverage those skills effectively.

It became evident that they were grappling with tough questions. They’d wonder, “What if?” or “But I know they feel like…” and “How do I even begin?” They expressed frustration about the complexities of leading others. Many felt that to be effective, they had to compromise their objectives, appease their own leadership, or even resort to more authoritarian styles. It seemed like the subtle power of "soft skills" was getting lost in the shuffle, overshadowed by a focus on authority and position.

Where had intuition, insight, and the ability to articulate complexities gone? These essential qualities felt like they were sinking beneath the waves, and I couldn’t help but wonder why.

The Role of Self-Discovery in Leadership

As I took on the role of their leadership consultant with our unique approach focused on short-term, high-impact consultations, I noticed a trend developing. Organisations increasingly asked for a preliminary week before our typical four-week consultations. This week became all about diving deep into fundamental questions. Questions like, “Do you know who YOU are?” and “How do you really BE a leader, not just DO leadership?” were at the forefront.

Over 2025, this became a lightbulb moment for me. I realised there was a significant gap in leadership understanding. The truth is, leadership is about who we are, not what we do. This fundamental principle has far-reaching implications—it can shape our understanding and embrace of AI, our trust in educational leaders, and even the way we perceive policing and politics. It became clear that when leaders focus solely on doing, they risk losing sight of their true selves and, thus, their true leadership qualities.

I started thinking about how we approach leadership compared to other important roles in life. For instance, we don’t typically qualify parenthood, marriage, or personal relationships with formal degrees. Instead, we develop our understanding of how to BE those things. We enhance our intuition and authenticity in our roles as providers, protectors, love-givers, and stabilisers. When we articulate what we do in these roles, we cover universal principles. However, when we verbalise what we are within those roles, it becomes deeply personal and tailored to our individual experiences.

This same principle applies to leadership. Yes, there are universal and foundational principles, but the real insight comes when we explore the personal lens through which we view leadership. It’s about understanding how our individual identities and experiences shape our approach to leading—not just the actions we take. This is the work so many choose not to do.

The Foundations of Awaken the Giant

In creating Awaken the Giant, I looked at several theories and leadership frameworks. One such framework was transformational leadership, which emphasises the importance of personal connections and authenticity in motivating and inspiring others. By focusing on who you are as a leader, participants learn to cultivate relationships based on trust and mutual respect—elements that are foundational to effective leadership.

Furthermore, the programme aligns with emotional intelligence (EI) theory. Goleman’s model of EI suggests that self-awareness and self-regulation are crucial for effective leadership. By encouraging leaders to explore their identities and personal styles, Awaken the Giant nurtures these competencies, enabling leaders to respond to challenges with greater agility and insight.

I was also struck by constructivist learning theory, which supports the programme's approach. This theory posits that individuals construct their own understanding and knowledge through experiences. By engaging in a self-led exploration of their leadership styles, participants are not just passive recipients of information; they actively create meaning based on their unique backgrounds and experiences.

Additionally, the concept of leadership identity development further underscored the Awaken the Giant programme. As leaders reflect on their experiences, values, and beliefs, they begin to construct a coherent leadership identity, which enhances their effectiveness and confidence in their roles. This aligns with the programme's goal of helping participants articulate their personal brand of leadership.

The Birth of Awaken the Giant

This understanding laid the groundwork for the Awaken the Giant programme. I wanted to create a space where leaders could explore their identities and personal styles. By gathering feedback from clients and organisations, we pinpointed the most impactful elements of our leadership consultancy—especially that crucial week of self-discovery.

Eventually, Awaken the Giant was born. We initially launched it as an invitation-only opportunity, encouraging participants to use their summer downtime to embark on a self-led yet guided exploration of their personal leadership. The response was overwhelming! Within just ten days of launching publicly, our calendar was packed with 1:1 launch calls.

Now, here we are, three and a half weeks in, and the demand hasn’t slowed down. In fact, I’m conducting launch calls on weekends! This isn’t just about celebrating our success; it’s about recognising a growing understanding that in today’s complex environment, learning how to BE a leader is far more important than simply knowing how to DO leadership.

Embracing Authentic Leadership

We often validate our capabilities through formal qualifications—MBAs, ILMs, PhDs—but we rarely quantify things like parenthood or personal relationships. Instead, we develop our understanding of how to BE those things, enhancing our intuition and authenticity in the process. Awaken the Giant isn’t about your title, salary, or office size; it’s about the depth of your character within your role. Engaging in this self-led programme isn’t a sign of vulnerability or weakness; it’s arguably the most powerful and influential step you can take in 2025.

As we navigate the shifting landscape of leadership, it’s crucial to recognise the slow erosion of intuition, which is being replaced by an obsession with automated doing. This shift threatens to separate the "Be-ers" from the "Do-ers."

So, why not give yourself a chance? Embrace the opportunity to awaken your inner giant and discover the true essence of leadership. Your journey starts now!

This journey is not just about personal growth; it’s about transforming the culture of leadership. By fostering authentic, effective leadership, we can drive immediate results and build resilient, high-performing teams. The future of leadership is here, and it begins with you.