What is important to you about leadership? Why did you get into it? Why do you do it? Have you ever honestly thought about it?

Some get into leadership for the status, the role, money, or power -- some get into it for impact and service. All intentions have an impact and either expand and energize or contract and deplete over time. Leadership starts with presence, pausing, and identifying what your leadership is about.

AI Generator Show Notes:

The podcast presents a compelling discourse on the profound significance of leadership and its intrinsic responsibilities (or "response-abilities" as Anese states). The speaker, Anese Cavanaugh, delves into the multifaceted nature of leadership, emphasizing that it is not merely a role defined by authority or title, but an opportunity to make meaningful connections with others, to serve, and to create more leaders. This episode serves as a reflective examination of what it truly means to lead, inviting listeners to reassess their own intentions behind their leadership roles. Cavanaugh articulates the common struggles leaders face, such as feelings of isolation and the overwhelming pressures that accompany decision-making responsibilities. She poignantly encourages leaders to reconnect with their original motivations for leading, which often reside in a desire to serve and empower others. By doing so, Cavanaugh posits that leaders can cultivate a more fulfilling and effective leadership experience, not only for themselves but also for those they lead. A crucial takeaway from this discourse is the reminder that leadership should be approached as both a privilege and a service, rather than a burden, thereby fostering a positive and empowering environment for all stakeholders.

Takeaways:

• The essence of leadership lies in the opportunity it provides to serve others, fostering their growth and well-being.
• Reconnecting with the original intention of leadership can invigorate one's approach to leading effectively.
• Many leaders experience fatigue due to excessive bureaucratic pressures and the loneliness of responsibility.
• Self-care is a fundamental leadership skill, essential for sustaining one’s ability to lead and support others.
• Effective leadership is about responding to the needs of the team and the organization, rather than shouldering all responsibilities alone.
• Recognizing the importance of one's leadership role can create a profound impact on both personal fulfillment and team dynamics.
• The nuance between "responsibility" and "response-ability" and how it changes the leadership game.

Continuing the work/learning more:

• Anese's Books: Contagious Culture (2015), Contagious You (2019/2026), The Leader You Will Be (2018), Excellent Endings (2026)
• The Quiet Tour: A new program to pause and find your quiet as a leader amidst your very full life. Quiettour.lovable.app (Next program starts August 3, 2026)
• The IEP Method: Anese's proven methodology (Intentional Energetic Presence) that helps leaders bring more intentional energy and presence to the table for stronger leadership and impact (without burnout) https://activechoices.com/iepmethod/
• The Presence & Impact Leaders Circle: A Community led by Anese to support people each week in integrating this work. More at https://ActiveChoices.com/Presence
• Socials: Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack @anesecavanaugh

In this first episode of Your Presence IS Your Impact, I'm saying HELLO! And we're diving right in, nitty-gritty-let's go. I talk a bit about my background and how we got here- this show, why I'm doing this, and how this topic is for anyone who desires more connection (with themselves, others, their craft, and God), more alignment, more impact, and to feel good while doing so. I share some of the most important things I've learned in this work over the last 30 years, and how you can start to lean into (and live into) this idea immediately.

Pause with me, and let's go.

Thanks again for being here!

Books mentioned (descriptions and more for all here):

• Contagious Culture: Show Up, Set the Tone, and Intentionally Create an Organization That Thrives (McGraw-Hill, 2015)
• Contagious You: Unlock Your Power to Influence, Lead, and Create the Impact You Want (McGraw-Hill, 2019, Rereleased by Rideout Press, 2026)
• The Leader You Will Be: An Invitation (ACI, 2018)
• Excellent Endings: The IEP Survival Guide to Divorce and Any Kind of Meaningful Ending (Rideout Press, 2026)

Learn more about me and Active Choices, Inc. at www.ActiveChoices.com

Join me in our Presence & Impact Leadership Circle Community here.

Find me on Substack, Instagram, and LinkedIn @anesecavanaugh

More to come!

In service and with devotion,

Anese