Tony Lillios
Today’s leaders face increasing demands — tightening budgets, rapidly evolving technology, and shifting work landscapes. Many leaders are looking for HELP and GROWTH! But where do they focus their efforts? More often than not, they zero in on two primary domains:
• Improving WHAT to do. Execution is a key driver for most leaders; they’re immersed in the day-to-day tasks, ensuring things get done and get done well.
• Focusing on HOW to get there. This is the higher-level strategy — prioritization, planning, and ensuring that WHAT they’re doing aligns with a broader vision.
For thoughtful and conscious leaders, there can be a deeper motivation: The WHY — the purpose driving their organization and themselves. A strong WHY fuels both individuals and teams with meaning and direction.
Yet, beyond all this, the most powerful leadership development happens in an often-overlooked area: WHO are you being as a leader?
Having spent decades as an entrepreneur and the past 10 years as a leadership coach, I’ve seen firsthand that elevated leadership isn’t just about doing more — it’s about becoming more. The most significant growth in my clients happens in the following key areas:
• Are you a human doing or a human being?
So much emphasis is placed on execution — there’s an endless supply of books, courses, and videos teaching leaders WHAT to do. But true leadership elevation doesn’t come from more tools — it comes from how you integrate and wield them. The real transformation lies in who you are in using these tools.
• Without awareness, there is only habit. With awareness, there is choice
We all have winning formulas — approaches that have propelled us to success. But often, we cling to these patterns unconsciously, even when they no longer serve us. Elevated leadership isn’t about reacting perfectly in every situation — it’s about you developing awareness in order to respond more skillfully and intentionally.
• The Platinum Circle
The Platinum Circle is a framework I use to help leaders pinpoint where their growth efforts are focused and how everything connects. Are you working on WHO you are being, WHAT you are doing, HOW you go about it, or WHY it all matters? Understanding these distinctions and their intersections is crucial for meaningful leadership development.
• Are your core values aspirational, inherited, or authentic?
Your core values shape your daily decisions, whether you realize it or not. But where do they come from and are they what you really stand for? By explicitly identifying and examining your core values, you can determine whether they are inherited from others, aspirational ideals, or deeply authentic to you. This realization alone can be a gamechanger, helping leaders evolve into the version of themselves they most want to be.
• You’re not broken
Leadership growth isn’t about fixing flaws — it’s about expanding your capacity and increasing your range of choices. The most successful leaders aren’t those who believe they’re broken and need repair; they’re the ones committed to deepening their awareness, refining their approach, and growing into their fullest potential.
Want to dive deeper into WHO you are being as a leader? Join me at NCETs Biz Bite today (March 26) to explore this aspect of leadership.
NCET is a member-supported nonprofit that produces educational and networking events to help people explore business and technology. More info at www.NCETbite.org
Tony Lillios is a leadership coach at Aliva Coach and a successful serial entrepreneur, most notably founding Speck, the company that pioneered the mobile hard case market.