Sensing your way forward

Many of us want to lead in a new way.

Whether it relates to the climate, to business, or to organisations, we know that old ways of leadership need to change. But how can we develop more intuitive leaders and promote a more feminine and collaborative energy in leadership?

Michelle Grant, an alumna of our Vision 20/20 program, is the founder of The Great Full, where she combines her deep knowledge of sustainable systems with her passion for personal and professional development.

She offers coaching and community for women leaders involved in food systems, sustainability, and regeneration, empowering women changemakers to take care of their personal wellbeing as well as that of the planet.

Here are 9 takeaways from our conversation:

1. Your audience can find you

When we’re starting a new venture, niching can feel tough. But sometimes you simply need to look at who’s buying.

Michelle offers support and community to women leaders in food and sustainability. Initially, it wasn’t her chosen audience, but an audience who chose her; when she put out her pilot program for 20 participants, only women applied.

2. We need more feminine leadership

Research suggests that, while people think that modern leaders have both male and female traits, the latter is still considered a nice ‘add on’. But Michelle points out that,

“There are still so few women in leadership roles in this space. There’s such a strong need for feminine leadership values and approaches, which don’t necessarily have anything to do with gender.”

3. Find the angle that’s yours

Finding our work to do includes finding the angle that inspires us. Michelle realised that food is a critical leverage point for driving positive change.

“It emerged out of a long time working around this topic of sustainability, trying to work out, ‘How can we create a better future for humans on this planet?’

And I kept coming back to this one place; food is connected to all of these challenges we’re talking about, whether it’s climate change, or biodiversity loss, or education.”

4. We need to work together

Whatever part of the bigger picture we focus on, our ability to make an impact or create change means we need to work well with others. As Michelle points out,

“It all comes down to how we’re showing up as human beings and how we’re able to collaborate with each other, or not, in the process.”

5. Your fulfilment is important, too

You can’t do the work if you’re constantly burnt-out. This is why the first module of our Vision 20/20 program uncovers your needs.

“What does leadership mean if it’s really all about bringing about positive change? And what does that look like, to step into that in a way that’s authentic and also fulfilling for ourselves?”

What the world needs is important. And what you need is, too.

6. We all go through the messy middle

Change isn’t tidy, especially when we’re trying new things. Michelle acknowledges the inherent messiness and uncertainty.

“It’s awkward. It doesn’t always work. We need to iterate. And it’s only through practicing new ways that we actually create change.

Because it’s not like we realise, change it, and it’s done. We’re always in the messy middle, and there’s value in that, too.”

7. Learning to trust our intuition

From school onwards, we’re taught to prioritise our intellect over our emotions and embodied wisdom. But that means we end up suppressing our emotions, losing contact with useful data, and dismissing relevant ‘gut’ feelings.

“We don’t trust it as much because the whole world’s telling us it’s not as important.”

Feeling supported, often through a community, can help us reconnect with and trust our intuition once again.

8. Inner work takes outer support

Many of our Vision 20/20 program alumni talk about the inner journey they’ve experienced and how being in a group supported it.

Michelle, too, emphasises that while inner work is necessary, it should take place in a supportive community rather than in isolation.

“This process of reconnection to ourselves, to others, to the planet, it’s inside-out work. Yes, we have to do it ourselves, but that doesn’t mean it’s individual work.”

9. Reframing our approach to contribution

And finally, Michelle posed a thought-provoking question about shifting our approach to contribution from a fear-based mindset to one rooted in love and joy.

“What does it mean to make our contribution from a place of love rather than a place of fear?”

If you ask yourself that question, what comes up for you?

Michelle’s story reveals the power of reconnecting with your emotions, engaging with your intuition, and believing in the future by creating it.

Coming from an academic background, it took her three years to transition into her current career.

At one point, juggling three different projects left her spinning her wheels for a year. But once she realised who she wanted to serve, things fell into place.

Watch the replay of our Fireside chat with Michelle, and discover her work at www.thegreatfull.com.

For more articles and guides like these, check out our blog.