Because it’s as varied as our human genome, abounding with seemingly endless possibility.  How so? In just a two-day period last week I worked with more than a half dozen leaders during some 1:1 coaching sessions. When I finished up, I looked over all of the meeting notes and realized how diverse and nuanced of a path each conversation took.

From an entrepreneur unpacking her brand, to a young professional seeking balance and wellness in her life, to a manager contemplating how he can hold people accountable while also building a culture of trust and autonomy, I explored an array of topics with these leaders. Later, another leader grappled with how to contextualize the importance of today’s tasks and the impact that critical work will have on the bigger picture, while a separate nonprofit committee thought through a strategic communication plan.

The variation of challenges, creative solutions, and leadership styles certainly keeps things interesting. But I think what’s even more compelling is that there simply isn’t a formula for leadership. While there are certainly tested and tried leadership theories, every individual requires their own journey and their own interpretation of the best route forward. The mandate to engage with this process is what really energizes me.

I relate this to the mapping of the human genome and the vast variations in our genes when one letter can be changed to alter the code. Our leadership DNA is similarly complex. Leaders have their own traits and personalities which interface with the best practices and attributes discovered by leadership studies. And then that conversation is further complicated when that leader faces the context of a team or an organization or an entire society. How will that individual maneuver, negotiate, dance, act?

So why is leadership coaching so dang exciting to me? Because of the infinite possibilities to unpack how to lead, how to manage, how to plan, how to solve, how to innovate, as you, in your context, today.

Your Break Through Post # 52 {Vol. 2, Ed. 6}