Leading Yourself

Last week, I mentioned the three concentric circles of my business: leading yourself, your team, and the work well. If leading yourself well is the foundation, then leading your team well is where that inner work becomes visible to the world around you.

Effective leadership always starts from the inside out. Here’s a practical look at how I’m leading myself well right now...

I was finishing my second cup of coffee and about to head into my office to prepare for my first meeting of the day when I realized my phone was missing. After retracing my steps with no luck, I opened Find My Phone on my computer. A distant pinging sounded from the garage. I walked out and found it sitting on the roof of my car. Right where I'd set it while buckling my daughter into her car seat for daycare. It had been up there the entire ride there and back.

My entrepreneurship journey from teacher to business owner, career pivots, burnout recovery, and aligned leadership.

Niceness is polite on the surface, but it tends to avoid discomfort. It keeps things pleasant. It smooths over tension. It excels at small talk and surface-level connection. But difficult conversations? Disagreement? Diverging perspectives? Niceness will differ to safer topics like the weather or last night’s game.

What’s your big and daunting thing that you know you need to tackle, one step at a time? What’s the project, goal, or intention for 2026 that feels important to your vision and your desires?

Their mission is both simple and profound: to rise above “us vs. them” thinking and build solutions together. They equip people with tools to uncover shared values, find hidden common ground, and work toward lasting solutions that reflect the will of the people, rather than just the loudest voices.

Lately, one of my favorite things has been getting to be a guest on podcasts. Truly—great conversations with thoughtful people about work, meaning, and how to create lives that feel good? That is my happy place. And getting to share those conversations with people I care about—you included—feels like a gift.

Every Wednesday, I share something that’s sparked my curiosity—a quote, resource, or idea—and a few thoughts on why it matters for how we work and lead.

At Allie Jones Consulting, this belief runs deep. How we gather matters. Whether it’s a board meeting, a client check-in, or a community roundtable, the way we design our time together shapes how seen, safe, and supported people feel—and how effective we can be.

It’s the willingness to show up, to lead with heart, and to keep creating even when you know not everyone will understand or approve.

Leadership today is tough. Silence feels safe, but it comes at a cost. Here’s why finding your voice matters.