read on website
read time: 4 minutes

Welcome to the very first edition of “The Tuesday Trailblazer”.
A newsletter dedicated to sharing exclusive content delivering actionable “beyond busy” insights for leadership, business and personal growth straight to your inbox every Tuesday morning!

Today’s email:

In today’s email, you’ll get my basic system to create the foundations for your beyond busy leadership;

• The importance of beliefs in leadership

• My 5 small but powerful beliefs

• How to build your own powerful beliefs

• Powerful beliefs action plan 

If you’ve been around leadership long enough, you’ve probably heard of John C Maxwell.

John has many great takes, but one of my favourite topics he talks to is the importance of who leaders are and what they stand for.

John believes that leaders must have a clear understanding of their own beliefs and be able to communicate these to their followers to foster trust, alignment, and motivation.

A colleague of mine introduced me to John back in 2012 and more recently I stumbled across his “Minute with maxwell series”.
I’d highly recommend checking it out if you like quick fire wisdom.

Alright, let’s blaze it up:

Having foundational beliefs as a leader is important for 3 reasons:

• Stronger Team Trust: When leaders operate from a set of clear, consistent beliefs, it builds trust. Teams know what to expect and believe in the direction they're being led.

• Enhanced Decision-Making: Foundational beliefs serve as a guideline for making tough decisions. This clarity leads to quicker, more confident choices that align with long-term visions.

• Personal Integrity: Leaders with solid beliefs stand firm even when challenged. This integrity wins respect and inspires others to follow with conviction.
  

If you don’t lead with (or are unaware of) your foundational beliefs:

• Inconsistent Leadership: Your leadership can be all over the place. This can make your team lose trust, get confused, and not care as much.

• Poor Decision-Making: It becomes hard to decide things or make good plans. This could slow down progress and make people think less of your organisation.

• Lack of Authenticity: You might seem fake or unreliable. This can make it tough to inspire and keep good people around.

5 Small but powerful beliefs that ignited my beyond busy leadership

These beliefs allowed me to:

Professionally;
👉 Earn multiple promotions across multiple brands
👉 + 2x my salary
👉 Work sub 40hr weeks consistently
👉 Develop & empower 10+ leaders towards progression

Personally;
💥Take an 8wk overseas holiday & disconnect from work
💥Reconnect with my wife & my Faith
💥Start a family
💥Prioritise and improve my mental & physical wellbeing

Here they are;

1. Play YOUR Role, Not Your Team's

   I found out the hard way that doing everything myself didn't work. It was better to focus on what I do best and let my team do their thing. This way, we all do great in our own areas.

2. Leadership is About People, Not Examples

   At first, I thought showing how it's done was the best way to lead. But I learned that real leadership means listening, understanding, and helping your team. It's about working with people, not just showing them how it's done.

3. Empowerment Comes from Permission, Not Position

   I needed to earn the right to deliver feedback.
   Through building relationships, not my title.

4. You Have Time—More Than You Think

   I was one of those leaders who thought they "didn't have enough time". I soon recognised the 24hrs I had each day, was the same as everyone else. Then I learned it's not about having time; it's about making time for what's important.
   This helped me do more of what really matters.

5. Busy is a Choice. The Dumb Choice.

   I used to be proud of being busy all the time. But I realised being busy just meant I wasn't managing my time right and creating a busy barrier (excuse) to not do the work that actually has an impact. Choosing not to be busy all the time made me a better leader.

Powerful Beliefs Action Plan:

It’s time to build and implement your powerful beliefs as a leader.
Here’s a step by step checklist to begin crafting your leadership beliefs system:

Step 1: Reflect on your leadership journey
Think about the big moments in your career, both good and bad. What ideas or beliefs helped you through? This step is all about figuring out what beliefs have been guiding you, even if you didn't realise it at the time. It's a great way to start shaping your leadership style on purpose.

Step 2: Identify what truly matters to YOU.
What values do you absolutely need in your leadership? Whether it's being real, clear, caring, or a mix, knowing what matters most to you is key. This helps make your core beliefs clear and strong.

Step 3: Seek feedback & perspectives
It's hard to see ourselves clearly, so ask people you trust—like coworkers, mentors, or your team—what they think about your beliefs and how you lead. Their input can help you see things in a new way and even challenge you to grow.

Step 4: Set intent for your leadership
Now that you know your core beliefs, think about how you can show these in your day-to-day leadership. This might mean setting aside time for one-on-one meetings, encouraging open feedback, or leading with kindness. Use your beliefs to shape how you act and lead every day.

Step 5: Review & adapt regularly
Our beliefs can change as we learn and grow. Make a habit of thinking about your core beliefs often to see if they still fit or if they need tweaking. This keeps your leadership fresh and effective.

These steps are all about understanding what drives you, sharing that with others, and using it to guide your leadership in a real, practical way.

In Conclusion

In a world that loves making things complicated, the real secret is keeping things simple. Basic beliefs aren't outdated—they're powerful.

"Keep your beliefs simple, and you'll find it easier to handle complex problems."

They help us in everything we do, from making choices to connecting with others. Understanding this can really make you stand out, whether you're leading a team, running a business, or just trying to grow as a person.

Foundational beliefs are not just about doing more; they're about being more.

I hope this helps you see that investing the time to build your foundational beliefs can ignite your time moving forward.

Together, let's embrace our powerful beliefs and lead with impact, not busy.

Here’s to powering up your beliefs in leadership,

Howard