This week, I had the immense pleasure of watching the documentary Defining Moments: Life & Leadership of Frances Hesselbein. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it!
The film beautifully captures the legacy of Frances Hesselbein, the renowned leader, former CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA, and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. A true pioneer for women, volunteerism, diversity, and opportunity, Hesselbein’s wisdom and impact shine through every moment of the documentary. It’s an inspiring tribute to a life dedicated to servant leadership, optimism, and lifelong learning.
One insight that resonated deeply with me was her powerful belief that:
“leadership is a matter of how to be, not how to do.”
This philosophy underscores the idea that effective leadership begins with character and presence—not just tasks or actions. Hesselbein emphasized the importance of authenticity, integrity, and a commitment to service, urging leaders to focus on personal development and aligning their behaviors with their core values.
This principle is foundational to my upcoming book, CORE Leadership (tentative title), which helps leaders grow from the inside out. The CORE Leadership framework encourages leaders to:
- Clarify their values and identity,
- Operationalize those values into consistent and intentional behaviors,
- Reflect to understand their thought processes, overcome obstacles, and enhance self-awareness,
- Evaluate alignment between their actions and intentions, uncover blind spots, and embrace feedback.
By focusing on “how to be,” leaders not only embody authenticity and integrity but also create environments of trust and collaboration. The CORE framework provides a practical roadmap to transform these insights into action, enabling leaders to lead with both purpose and presence.
Thank you, Sarah McArthur, for producing this meaningful film, and Diane Ryan, for hosting such a thought-provoking event.