The Leadership Shift No One Talks About

katrincharlton
Jul 14
4 min read

Updated: Jul 15

This blog is about the quiet, inner transitions that often go unnoticed in leadership — the ones that happen beneath the surface, and yet shape everything.

“I’ve moved countries, careers, and even continents — but this internal shift feels harder than all of those combined.”

A client said this to me recently. And I get it.

I’ve moved too — not just across borders, but through different versions of myself.

Because sometimes the biggest leadership shift isn’t about a new title, team, or strategy. It’s what’s evolving within.

💡 And here’s the thing: no one really talks about that kind of shift.

The one that sneaks up on you when you're already successful.

When your external world is moving — a promotion, a new challenge, or a changing business landscape — but something internally feels off.

When you’re still performing… but it doesn’t feel aligned.

When you're asking quietly: What’s next? What’s still true for me?

That’s when it becomes important to pause and look inward.

Because that in-between space — where you’re no longer who you were, but not yet who you’ll become — is where the real work begins. It’s also where the magic (and the messiness) lives.

It can feel uncomfortable, foggy, and full of questions.

But it’s also where clarity often begins.

🌟 The Power of Layers: Using Dilts’ Logical Levels for Meaningful Change

One of the tools I often explore with clients — especially during transition — is Dilts’ Logical Levels.

Created by Robert Dilts, this model helps unpack change at different levels — from the outer world to your inner compass.

Think of an iceberg.

What we see above the surface — behaviour, environment — is only a small part. The real power lies beneath: identity, values, beliefs.

These are the deeper drivers of who we are and how we lead.

Here’s a quick overview of the six levels:

🔹 Environment – Where and when you act

🔹 Behaviours – What you do

🔹 Capabilities – How you do it

🔹 Beliefs & Values – Why you do it

🔹 Identity – Who you believe you are

🔹 Purpose – What you exist for beyond yourself

Each layer influences the ones beneath it. The deeper the shift, the greater the ripple effect.

🎯 Why this matters for leaders in transition

When leaders step into new roles or navigate big shifts, the focus is often on doing — new behaviours, new systems, new goals.

But the real transformation?

It happens when we ask:

👉 Who am I becoming — and why does that matter?

One client, newly promoted to CEO, initially focused on team structures and decisions. But the breakthrough came when we explored:

👉 “Who do I want to be in this role — and what impact do I want to have?”

That shift brought new clarity and executive presence — and had a far wider impact than any quick behavioural fix.

In fact, McKinsey found that leaders who connect their actions to deeper meaning and purpose are 4.2x more likely to be rated as highly effective.

And Harvard Business Review reports that leaders with a strong sense of purpose experience higher engagement, resilience, and retention — especially during change.

🧠 The neuroscience nugget

When we reflect on things like values, identity, and purpose, we’re not just "being introspective” — we’re engaging key areas of the brain.

The medial prefrontal cortex and the default mode network play a role in meaning-making, emotional regulation, and imagining the future. These networks help us tune into who we are — and make sense of what really matters.

Research shows that people who feel connected to a strong sense of purpose activate more of the brain’s reward and motivation systems (Strecher et al., 2016).They also show greater resilience and clarity under pressure.

In short: when you take the time to reconnect with your deeper “why”, your brain becomes better at adapting, leading, and moving forward with confidence.

📝 A reflection tool to try

If you’re facing change right now, try this:

• Environment: What around me is supporting or hindering me?

• Behaviours: What am I doing — and is it helping?

• Capabilities: What strengths am I using? What’s missing?

• Beliefs & Values: What do I truly care about here?

• Identity: Who am I being? Is that aligned with who I want to be?

• Purpose: What bigger picture am I contributing to?

Sometimes, one honest answer can unlock your next step.

💬 Final thought

Transitions aren’t just moments of change.

They’re powerful invitations to pause, reflect, and reconnect with who you are — and who you’re becoming.