The Mindset That Defines Great Leadership
Welcome to this week’s Toolkit Tuesday! Today, we’re diving into the Leader Mindset, a foundational tool that equips you to be a better coach and leader. The most important skill for any leader seeking to build a healthy, high-performing team is the ability to be a good coach for their people. This isn’t just theory—it’s backed by extensive research.
For example, Google’s Project Oxygen research ranked the top 10 behaviors that define high-performing leaders. At the very top? Being a good coach.
But to be a great coach and leader, it starts with the right mindset. Are you “for” your people? Do they know that you are committed to fighting for their highest possible good? Without this mindset, coaching becomes about managing tasks instead of empowering people, and leadership stops short of creating meaningful, lasting impact.
The Challenge
Leadership isn’t just about hitting goals or managing tasks—it’s about empowering your team to thrive and grow. But too often, leaders fall into common traps:
Micromanaging: Over-focusing on tasks without empowering people.
Lack of Clarity: Not aligning expectations with individual needs or team goals.
Stagnation: Missing opportunities to challenge or develop team members.
These pitfalls lead to disengagement, lower morale, and missed potential. The key to avoiding them? Adopting the Leader Mindset, where your focus is fighting for the highest possible good in the lives of those you lead.
A Personal Story
When I (Matt) graduated from US Army flight school and arrived at my first assignment in Korea as a CH-47 helicopter pilot, I was eager to prove myself. Within two weeks, there were 10 brand-new pilots in the unit, all of us keen to progress and gain experience.
I had two senior pilots, Paul Eskesen and Mike Trotter, who shaped not only that year in Korea but my entire Army career. They took the time to pull me aside, coach me in areas I needed to develop and then deliberately put me in challenging situations that stretched both my skills as a pilot and my growth as a leader.
While they didn’t have this specific tool, they embodied the Leader Mindset, fighting for my highest possible good.
One of the most significant outcomes of their mentorship was during that first tour when I was chosen to serve as the flight lead and trainer for the USMC Presidential Helicopter Detachment during President George H. W. Bush’s visit to Korea in 1992.
I was in the jump seat of Marine One, providing guidance on navigating the complex air defense system around Seoul. While it was a defining moment for me, it was ultimately the result of the investment and leadership of Paul and Mike.
Years later, after retiring, I reached out to both of them to thank them for the impact they had on my life and career. Their coaching didn’t just shape my time in Korea—it prepared me for countless successful missions and leadership moments throughout my Army career.
The Tool: Leader Mindset
The Leader Mindset tool provides a simple, scalable coaching framework designed to help you fight for the highest possible good in the lives of those you lead.
At the top of the tool, written in green, is the rallying cry that sets the standard: “Fight for the highest possible good in the lives of those you lead.” Always begin with this mindset check to orient yourself toward your people.
From there, follow these five steps to guide your leadership and coaching process:
What specific support and challenge do they need from me? Leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all. Calibrate your behavior to meet the unique needs of each individual.
What does the broader context of their role require? Align your expectations and what you ask of them with the big-picture strategies for how you win as a team and as individuals.
What is the tendency or pattern most undermining their influence? In a mindset of being “for them,” identify what may be holding them back. Help them see these patterns and call them up to higher levels of growth and performance.
How do I help them get to the next level? Leadership isn’t about critiquing what’s wrong; it’s about proactively helping them achieve their full potential. Think strategically about their growth and be intentional about how you can assist them in getting there.
How do I sustain their growth over time? Great leadership doesn’t stop at one breakthrough. Commit to ongoing development by providing consistent support, challenge, and opportunities to help them continually level up.
Why This Matters
Coaching isn’t just a task for leaders; it’s the heart of what it means to lead. And it all starts with mindset.
When your team knows you are truly “for them,” it creates:
Trust: People work harder and more creatively when they know their leader is committed to their success.
Engagement: Teams become more invested when they are both supported and challenged.
Growth: Individuals are empowered to rise above their limitations and reach their full potential.
Being a liberating leader is not about being a “boss.” It’s about being a Sherpa*—climbing ahead of your people, clearing the path, and then reaching back to help them climb the mountain with you.
* A Sherpa is a member of an ethnic group native to the mountainous regions of the Himalayas, particularly Nepal, who are well-known for their expertise in high-altitude climbing and often work as guides for mountaineering expeditions, especially on Mount Everest.
The Result
When leaders consistently apply the Leader Mindset, they see:
Stronger teams: Built on trust, accountability, and empowerment.
Elevated performance: Individuals and teams working together to achieve higher levels of success.
A lasting legacy: Creating leaders worth following who multiply their influence.
Action Steps
This week, apply the Leader Mindset coaching framework:
1. Mindset Check: Reflect: Do your people know you’re “for them”?
2. Choose One Person to Coach:
Use the framework to guide a coaching conversation. Focus on:
What specific support and challenge they need.
What may be holding them back.
How you can help them grow.
3. Set the Standard: Start using the Leader Mindset tool daily to guide your leadership approach.
Final Thought
Being a great leader is about fighting for the highest possible good in the lives of those you lead. Coaching is tough, but it’s worth it.
If you’re ready to take your leadership and your team to the next level, we’d love to help. At Khaki Consulting, we specialize in teaching entire teams how to lead with the Leader Mindset—reducing turnover, increasing motivation, and unlocking the potential of every team member. The results? Greater engagement, a thriving culture, and increased revenue for your organization.
Let’s connect to discuss how we can partner with you to equip your leaders and team to achieve sustainable success.
