The Tax of Intentionality: Why Every Leader Should Embrace it
By Jayson Krause, Managing Director of Level 52 & Award-Winning Author of The Science Behind Success
Leadership, at its core, isn’t just about strategy, decision-making, or execution. It’s about intentionality—the quiet, consistent effort leaders put into aligning their actions with their values, vision, and goals. But here’s the thing: intentionality comes with a hidden tax. It’s a form of leadership fitness that doesn’t show up in the same way that physical growth does. You can’t see it like you can track the growth of your biceps, but over time, the benefits are undeniable.
The hard part? Exercising these invisible muscles is tough. There’s no immediate payoff, no dramatic ‘before and after’ transformation to show off. And yet, it’s the leaders who commit to this process—who invest in their intentionality—that reap the most meaningful and lasting rewards.
In this article, we’ll explore why intentionality is the hidden strength behind great leadership, why it feels like a “tax” in the moment, and how developing this invisible muscle can transform your effectiveness as a leader over time.
The Invisible Tax: Why Intentionality Feels Like Hard Work
Intentionality requires you to be deliberate about everything you do. It’s the difference between reacting to whatever happens and choosing to act in alignment with your goals. It’s about making choices based on purpose, not on convenience or instinct. And here’s the truth: that takes effort—more effort than most people realize.
In the world of leadership, the easiest thing to do is to act on autopilot. It’s easy to default to habits, to rely on past experience, or to be reactive in the face of challenges. But intentionality demands that you pause, reflect, and make conscious decisions about your next move. It asks you to be present in each moment, to choose your words carefully, and to ensure your actions are aligned with your larger vision.
This is where the tax comes in: it’s mentally and emotionally taxing to be intentional in everything you do. You have to be constantly aware of how your actions impact others, how your decisions align with your values, and how your behaviour influences the culture of your team or organization.
But just like physical fitness, the work you put in today isn’t always visible right away. You don’t immediately see the results of being intentional, which can make it feel like you’re paying a tax with no immediate payoff.
Strengthening Leadership’s Invisible Muscles
Intentionality builds the invisible muscles of leadership. Just like physical training strengthens your body over time, intentionality strengthens your leadership presence, emotional intelligence, and decision-making ability. These aren’t things you can show off at the gym, but they are the qualities that determine whether you become a great leader or just a good one. It’s exactly why we invest the time and effort in our Accelerated Leader Programs to build the foundation for these often missed leadership assets.
The “invisible muscles” of intentionality include:
Self-Awareness: Intentional leaders are highly self-aware. They know their strengths, their blind spots, and how they show up in different situations. Being intentional means constantly reflecting on how your behavior aligns with your values and adjusting when necessary.
Emotional Regulation: Leadership is emotionally demanding. Being intentional means learning to manage your emotional responses, even under pressure. It’s about choosing how to react, rather than letting your emotions dictate your actions.
Consistency: Intentionality builds consistency. When you are deliberate about how you lead, your team can trust that you’ll show up the same way, every day. This consistency strengthens trust and loyalty within your team.
Clarity of Purpose: Intentional leaders have a strong sense of purpose that guides their decisions. This clarity allows them to stay focused, even when distractions arise or when things get tough.
The Long Game of Leadership Fitness
The tax of being intentional is real, but so are the rewards. Just like with physical fitness, the results don’t come overnight, but with time and consistent effort, you’ll see the payoff. The invisible muscles of leadership—self-awareness, emotional regulation, consistency, and clarity—are what make great leaders great.
Embrace the tax of intentionality. Exercise those invisible muscles every day, even when it feels hard, even when there’s no immediate payoff. Because over time, the benefits of leading with purpose, clarity, and intention will become your greatest leadership strength.
