How Authenticity, Science-Backed Systems, and Strategic Focus Can Transform Your Leadership
Have you ever felt invisible at the very moment your voice mattered most?
In 2017, I stood in a boardroom at the Mississauga headquarters of a major international nonprofit, pitching an employee engagement system I’d spent months developing. Despite my preparation, my ideas were drowned out by louder voices and established opinions. After the meeting, a colleague said, “Your solution was exactly what we needed but no one really heard you.”
I am not alone. According to Gallup, 68% of professionals feel their contributions go unnoticed in critical meetings, even when their insights are valuable. In today’s noisy world, influence isn’t about being loud; it is about being unmistakably you.
As a leadership coach and facilitator, I’ve seen how science-backed frameworks can
help leaders at every level move from overlooked to influential.
Here’s what works:
1. Fascinate Advantage®: Why Being Different Beats Being “Better”
Most leaders try to fit in. The Fascinate Advantage® system flips this script by asking: How does the world see you at your most compelling?
As a Rockstar archetype (Innovation as primary, Passion as secondary), I learned to lean into my creative advantage by challenging norms, sparking new ideas, and connecting through bold energy. For example, when coaching a school owner struggling to inspire her faculty, we used her Mystique archetype (Prestige + Power) to reposition her quiet confidence as strategic gravitas.
Try this:
- Identify your “trigger” (Innovation, Passion, Trust, etc.) using your Fascinate Advantage® report.
- Double down on this in high stakes moments.
These temperaments, shaped by introversion and extroversion, help educators
recognize and respond to the diverse needs of their students.
2. Personality Dimensions®: Leading with Empathy in a Data-Driven World
Authentic leadership requires understanding how you connect. As an Extroverted Authentic Blue, I thrive on collaboration and shared vision. In contrast, I once worked with an introverted Organized Gold industry leader in the oil sector. By valuing his process driven approach, we built systems that improved efficiency and trust, showing that honoring each person’s temperament leads to impactful results.
Leadership research shows that understanding and leveraging team strengths, such as those identified through personality assessments, can significantly increase engagement. While not all studies cite the same percentage, improvements of up to 30% are consistent with findings from leading organizations.
Try this:
- Audit your team’s Personality Dimensions® profiles.
- Communicate and delegate based on innate strengths.
3. Maxwell Leadership®: The Principle That Multiplies Influence
John Maxwell says, “Leadership is not about titles, but about adding value to others.” In a fast-growing retail company, executives noticed innovation was stalling. By implementing Maxwell Leadership® principles such as open feedback and cross department mentorship, employee engagement rose and new product initiatives increased by 20% in a year.
Try this:
- Quarterly, ask: “How can I elevate my team’s skills today?”
- Invest in mentorship programs tied to your core values.
4. Full Focus Planner™: Clarity in Chaos
Influence requires focus. In one of my past workshops, I trained students aged 13 to 16 to use the Full Focus Planner™ for goal setting and organization. The students’ school scorecards showed marked improvement, and they reported less stress and more confidence in managing their responsibilities.
Try this:
- Set SMARTER goals and revisit them weekly.
- Identify your “Big 3” daily priorities and focus on impact, not just activity.
5. Your Turn: The 30-Day Influence Challenge
- Week 1: Complete your Fascinate Advantage® and/or Personality Dimensions® assessments (or another strengths-based tool you prefer).
- Week 2: Host a “strength mapping” session with your team, creating a heat map of your group’s strengths and communication styles. Invite everyone to share their unique strengths, whether from Fascinate Advantage®, Personality Dimensions®, or other frameworks. Use multiple participation methods and ensure all voices are heard.
- Week 3: Implement one Maxwell Leadership® empowerment tactic (e.g., mentorship, cross-training).
- Week 4: Audit your calendar with the Full Focus Planner™ and eliminate three low-impact tasks.
Why This Matters Now
Gartner predicts that 45% of current leadership strategies will be obsolete by 2027 due to AI and generational shifts. Leaders who master authenticity, empathy, and focus will thrive in this new era.
As Satya Nadella proved at Microsoft, and Mandela showed the world, influence starts not with a title, but with the courage to lead as your truest self.
Ready to accelerate your leadership impact?
Book your discovery call and start driving transformative results this quarter.
Join the Conversation
What’s the one action you will take this week, to move from invisible to influential?
References
Gallup, 2023 State of the Global Workplace
Leadership IQ, 2024 Engagement Study
Gartner, 2025 Future of Leadership Report
Fascinate Advantage® System, HowToFascinate.com
Personality Dimensions®, PersonalityDimensions.com
Maxwell Leadership®, Maxwellleadership.com
Full Focus Planner™, FullFocus.co
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