Reignite Your Why: What to Do When Leadership Starts to Feel Like a Grind
Every leader hits the wall eventually. You’re still showing up, still running the meetings, still delivering results. But something’s off… the work feels flat, the vision foggy, and the spark... well, frankly it’s missing.
That’s when it’s time to ask a deeper question: Have I lost touch with my why?
What Makes Purpose Fade
There are so many reasons this happens.
You’re constantly firefighting and can’t rise above the noise.
You’ve hit a comfort zone—things run smoothly, but you’re not growing.
You’re measuring the wrong things or forgot to shift what you measure as the team has evolved.
Your leadership has become about numbers, not people. Or you’ve lost trust, or lost alignment with your own values.
Sometimes it’s just exhaustion. Keeping the “why” in mind takes effort. And effort is hard to sustain in a fast-moving, ever-shifting leadership landscape.
Here’s how you know disconnection may be creeping in:
1-1s feel transactional
Your calendar is packed but you feel emotionally unfulfilled
Decisions are efficient but lack depth
You feel yourself going through the motions
“Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.”
—Simon Sinek, Start With Why
How to Reconnect When You Feel Lost
Reconnection often starts with disruption. Something wakes you up:
Direct feedback from a team member
A position change
A conversation with a spouse, mentor, or peer
A moment of silence that feels a little too silent
The moment doesn’t need to be dramatic, but it usually feels real. When that happens, here’s what helps me:
I reflect. Often by reviewing old notes, journaling, or revisiting past feedback.
I remember why I got into leadership in the first place.
I talk to someone who knows me well and sees the bigger picture.
Most of us have written down or said something about why leadership matters to us. Returning to that moment—mentally or literally—can be the spark that reignites everything.
And if you’re not sure what your “why” is? That’s worth exploring. For some, it’s about service. For others, it’s about building something lasting. For many, it’s about impact. The clarity doesn’t have to be perfect but it does have to be personal.
"You can't lead others with clarity when you've lost sight of your own purpose."
—Illumin8 Advisors
A Personal Reset
After more than a decade in leadership, I went through a stretch where I’d had three executive leadership changes in five years, but my team hadn’t changed much. The result? High stability below me. Constant change above me.
That instability wore me down. I got consumed by my own concerns. My 1-1s became mechanical: “How are you today? What are you working on?” No strategic thought or deep coaching. Just surface-level maintenance.
Then came a 360 review. I asked for feedback from my team and former direct reports. Their responses were moving. Their gratitude, stories, and reflections reminded me that leadership is a privilege, that I’d made an impact, and that I could still have impact.
That feedback didn’t just help me realign, it re-energized me.
I returned to those conversations and carried them with me into new roles. Even now - years later - I revisit them whenever I feel the fog rolling back in.
“People don’t buy what you do. They buy why you do it.”
—Simon Sinek, Start With Why
How to Stay Connected
You don’t have to wait until you’re burned out to remember your purpose. You can build habits that help you stay connected to it:
Schedule time to think. Step back from the noise. Look at the big picture.
Know your people deeply. Personal connection often reawakens your purpose.
Revisit your impact. Look back on where you’ve made a difference.
Adopt a servant-leader lens. Look for ways to support, not just direct.
Ask deeper questions. Even in (especially in) routine meetings.
“Fulfillment is a right and not a privilege. Every single one of us is entitled to wake up inspired to go to work.”
—Simon Sinek, Start With Why
Because purpose isn’t something you “arrive” at. It’s something you return to, over and over again.
And each time you do, the work gets lighter, the vision gets clearer, and the grind becomes growth again.
When was the last time you felt disconnected from your “why”? What helped you reconnect?
Join the Conversation:
We’re continuing this discussion on LinkedIn. We’d love to hear what helps you stay anchored in purpose—especially when leadership gets heavy.
👇 Share your story here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/illumin8-advisors/
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