In this episode of The Leaderful Podcast, we sit down with Chris Downey, Vice President of Consulting Services at Achieve Center for Leadership and co-author of You Can Manage, to explore what it really means to lead with intention, curiosity, and accountability.

Drawing on more than 25 years of leadership experience, Chris offers a grounded perspective on the gap between how leaders intend to show up and how others actually experience them. He shares how his own leadership journey shifted when he began asking a simple but transformative question:

How do I want to be as a leader?

This conversation moves beyond generic leadership advice and one-size-fits-all practices. Instead, Jeff and Chris examine how leaders can develop their own leadership philosophy, recognize the influence of systems and workplace cultures, and use self-awareness to make more intentional choices in difficult moments.

Together, they unpack the role of curiosity, the importance of acknowledging harm, and why apology and repair can strengthen relationships rather than undermine authority. They also explore how leaders can create environments where people feel safe to make mistakes, speak honestly, and contribute without constantly second-guessing themselves.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why sincere curiosity is essential for healthier relationships and teams
• How leaders can close the gap between their intentions and their impact
• Why individual accountability and systemic responsibility must be held together
• How acknowledging harm and apologizing can repair and strengthen relationships
• Why leaders should model that mistakes can be addressed rather than hidden
• How a leadership charter can clarify how you want to show up
• Why self-care, reflection, and awareness of power are essential to effective leadership

If you’re a leader navigating workplace dysfunction, strained relationships, fear of mistakes, or the gap between your intentions and your impact, this episode offers practical tools and a powerful reframe: effective leadership begins by getting clear on who you want to be, then paying attention to how others experience you.

Learn more about The Co. → a leadership development opportunity for impact-conscious and power-curious leaders.