Once a month, I base myself in a client’s office for the day. It’s a rhythm I love, being in their environment, feeling the culture, overhearing snippets of hallway conversations, and soaking in the real context behind the coaching or workshops I’m running.
This month, I was facilitating one of our regular two-hour leadership sessions - a series we’ve been building on for months. The kind of work where you get to see real traction: the shift in language, the spark in someone’s eyes when something lands, the courage to try new things between sessions.
But it wasn’t the session itself that stuck with me this time.
It was a sticky note.
A small, slightly curled yellow square tacked to the wall just behind where I set up.
Three handwritten words:
Connect. Challenge. Inspire.
Nothing fancy.
Just felt-tip pen, slightly faded.
It’s been there for a while.
The Things We No Longer See
I found myself staring at that note. I’ve seen it before, of course, but on this day, something about it caught me.
Connect. Challenge. Inspire.
It’s a beautiful intention.
One that speaks deeply to the kind of leadership we need right now.
But it also made me wonder…
Has it been there so long that no one sees it anymore?
You know what I mean, that phenomenon where a quote or poster or vision statement becomes part of the furniture. It was once a declaration, and now it’s just décor.
I had to ask myself: What do those words mean to me, here, today?
And then: What do they still mean to the person who wrote them? Have they evolved? Deepened? Or drifted into the background noise of busy days and long to-do lists?
Connect. Challenge. Inspire. (Still)
Here’s what I landed on:
Connect – Not just meeting with people, but being with them. Listening. Being present. Seeing the human behind the role. For me that day, it meant slowing down, asking one more meaningful question, and letting silence do some of the work.
Challenge – Not confrontation for its own sake, but the kind of challenge that invites growth. The gentle stretch. The reframing of old beliefs. That day, it meant leaning into a tough conversation with a leader who was avoiding something important.
Inspire – Not performative pep talks. True inspiration comes from being real, grounded, and willing to share your learning, not just your wins. That day, it meant being honest about my own stretch points and how I was navigating them.
That sticky note didn’t just direct the session. It anchored me. It asked something of me. And it reminded me that leadership is made in the moments we choose to live our values, not just name them.
What’s On Your Wall?
Maybe it’s not a sticky note for you. Maybe it’s a daily ritual, a piece of writing, a playlist, a morning run, or a conversation with someone who calls you to a higher standard.
We all need something that pulls us back to what matters most.
Because leadership is noisy. It’s fast. And in the pace of it all, it’s easy to forget why you started, what you believe, or the impact you want to have.
That’s why reminders matter, not as cute quotes, but as compasses.
What reminds you of who you are as a leader?
What keeps you grounded in your purpose, especially on the messy days?
What practices, prompts, or people help you show up in alignment with your best self?
Real Leadership Is Intentional
Those three words on the wall? They may have faded slightly in ink, but they’ve deepened in meaning. They’ve grown up with the work. They hold weight because they’ve been lived, not just written.
And that’s what Real Leadership is.
It’s not a poster. It’s a practice.
It’s the choice to bring intention into each conversation, each decision, each day.
So next time you walk into your office, look around. What’s guiding you?
What sticky note - literal or metaphorical - are you leading from?
We create our leadership - with the habits we build, the values we live, and the space we hold.
#RealLeadership #LeadWithIntention #LeadershipReminders #MichelleSalesLeadership #StickyNoteWisdom
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