Most leadership development efforts focus on what leaders need to do—setting goals, communicating clearly, managing performance. But in my work with executive teams and organizations around the world, I’ve found that how leaders think has far more impact than the tactics they use.
The best leaders—the ones who build thriving teams, navigate complexity with grace, and leave a lasting impact—think differently than most. Not just because they’re more experienced or smarter, but because they’ve upgraded their internal operating system. They see the world through a more elevated lens.
This post explores how the most effective leaders think differently—and why that difference matters. Perhaps it will help you to see areas you may want to elevate your thinking.
Most Leaders Think the Way They’re Incentivized—Not the Way That’s Most Effective
How leaders think is often shaped by how they are incentivized: hit the number, solve the problem, avoid the fire. And while leaders can generate some positive short-term outcomes with this level of thinking, such thinking generally involves a narrow perspective.
The reality is that most leaders aren’t taught to elevate their thinking—they’re trained to react to what’s in front of them.
We get a sense of this by looking at the research on vertical development which reveals that while leaders can operate at one of three levels of cognitive and emotional sophistication, most leaders think and operate at a moderate level of cognitive and emotional sophistication. Specifically:
- 85% of leaders operate at the second level—they’re capable, responsible, and achievement-oriented, but often reactive and control-focused.
- Only 8% of leaders operate at the third and most elevated level, where their thinking becomes more conscious, strategic, and value-creating.
In what follows, we’ll explore how these top 8%—the most elevated leaders—think differently than the rest.
7 Ways Elevated Leaders Think Differently from Most Leaders
These aren’t surface-level differences. They represent a deeper rewiring of how leaders see themselves, others, and the world around them.
🔥 1. How They View Problems and Fires
- Most leaders think: Problems signal trouble and need to be extinguished immediately.
- Elevated leaders think: Problems are a natural part of the process of growth and evolution.
Thus, when problems occur, elevated leaders don’t panic or overreact. They interpret issues as feedback from the system—an opportunity to adjust, align, and move forward with clarity. And, rather than rush to put out the fire, they stay on the strategic watchtower, continuing to direct the organization or group from an elevated position.
❌ 2. How They View Failure
- Most leaders think: Failure reflects poorly on them and should be avoided.
- Elevated leaders think: Failure is a teacher. It reveals the edges of growth.
Elevated leaders recognize that the path to doing something great is only possible by working through failures not avoiding them. This empowers their teams to take smart risks and innovate more freely.
⏳ 3. How They View Time
- Most leaders think: Short-term wins validate effectiveness.
- Elevated leaders think: Long-term progress reveals true leadership.
They’re less concerned with looking good now and more focused on building momentum and systems that endure. They ask, “Are we planting the right seeds today?” The reality is that most leaders are unwilling to sacrifice success in the short-term because they are afraid of missing out on a bonus or getting fired. Elevated leaders are actually willing to sacrifice short-term success for long-term purpose fulfillment.
⚖️ 4. How They View Risk
- Most leaders think: Risk should be minimized.
- Elevated leaders think: Risk is the currency of value creation.
Elevated leaders don’t chase risk recklessly—but they recognize that taking risks is necessary to go from where they are now to where they want to be in the future. They know that “playing it safe” rarely leads to breakthroughs.
🏛 5. How They View Culture
- Most leaders think: Culture is a distraction. Investing in culture rarely helps an organization hit short-term milestones. Thus, most leaders do not make it a priority, preferring to invest in things where they will see a quicker return on their investments.
- Elevated leaders think: Culture is the invisible force driving everything. They see culture as their most important investment for long-term success and value creation.
Elevated leaders don’t leave culture to chance. They’re intentional about establishing (1) a clear, inspirational, and value-creating purpose, and (2) aligned values to help ensure a healthy accountability culture focused on long-term value creation.
👥 6. How They View Other People
- Most leaders think: People are assets to be directed.
- Elevated leaders think: People are potential to be unleashed.
Elevated leaders are gardener-minded leaders. They aren’t focused on the fruit (i.e., results). They are focused on creating the right conditions for the tree (their organization and its employees) to produce the highest quality and greatest amount of fruit. They are passionate about helping their people grow and thrive.
🧠 7. How They View Themselves
- Most leaders think: I must prove my worth through performance.
- Elevated leaders think: I grow my impact by deepening my awareness.
Elevated leaders aren’t driven by ego or fear. They’re committed to evolving, seeing themselves clearly, and leading from purpose—not pressure.
The Personal Payoff of Elevated Thinking
When leaders elevate their thinking, the benefits extend far beyond their roles or responsibilities. This isn’t just about better leadership—it’s about a better life.
🔓 More Internal Freedom
Elevated leaders aren’t ruled by insecurity or urgency. They operate from a centered place. They don’t need to over-function to feel successful. They lead with grounded confidence and clarity.
🧭 Greater Clarity and Direction
With higher-level thinking comes sharper vision. Elevated leaders aren’t chasing everything—they’re focused on what truly matters. They make bold, aligned decisions without second-guessing.
💼 Career Growth That Feels Aligned
When you lead from an elevated place, the right opportunities find you. People trust you to lead systems, not just projects. You grow in influence without sacrificing your integrity or well-being.
🧘♂️ A More Meaningful Life
This way of thinking affects how you show up as a parent, partner, and friend. You become less reactive, more present. Less consumed by control, more driven by purpose.
Just look at leaders like Satya Nadella and Alan Mulally. Both turned around major companies—Microsoft and Ford—not by leaning harder into control, but by expanding their thinking. They became more human, more conscious, and more connected. Their leadership wasn’t just a career win—it was a legacy of transformation.
Do You Think Like an Elevated Leader?
Of the seven ways elevated leaders think different than most leaders. Where do you think you most need to improve? For example,
- Do you see problems as disruptions—or opportunities to grow and evolve?
- Are you managing outcomes—or cultivating the system that produces them?
- Are you operating from reaction—or intention?
- Are you focused on proving yourself—or expanding yourself?
If you’re ready to think and lead from a more elevated place, or if you want to help your leaders or employees think and operate from a more elevated place, let’s connect.
It is my passion to help others elevate themselves so that they can have a more elevated impact.
