Intent is your fundamental motive or agenda and the behavior that follows. It can be broken down and examined in these categories:
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- Motive: The motive that inspires the greatest trust is genuine caring - about people, your values, and the quality of what you do.
- Agenda: The agenda that inspires the greatest trust is seeking mutual benefit - genuinely wanting what's best for everyone involved.
- Behavior: The behavior that best creates credibility is acting in the best interests of everyone.
You improve your intent by:
Examining Your Motives: Ask yourself the "five whys." Once you get close to your real intent, ask yourself: "Am I motivated only by self-interest or by the interests of all?"
Choosing Abundance: Ask yourself, "Do I believe there are enough rewards, credit, recognition, and benefits for everyone's interests to be served?"
Declaring Your Intent: Choose the intent that will serve everyone best, including yourself. State it, signal it, clarify it, and discuss it--especially when your intent is unclear. Share the "why" behind the "what" wherever possible.
Download our guide, Manage Your Biases to Better Manage Your Team, to learn some strategies for identifying your biases as a leader and what you can do to manage them.