Pursuing Better Leadership: Initiate with Purposeful Ambition
In today's fast-paced world, the cultural response to the era of relentless hustle and toxic productivity is gaining traction, as many professionals are starting to question the cost. One voice leading this change is Rha Goddess, a career coach and cultural innovator, who advocates for a new model of ambition that prioritizes purpose, joy, freedom, and fulfillment.
Rha Goddess's latest book, "Intentional Ambition", offers a fresh perspective on ambition, grounding it in joy, alignment, and purpose. Instead of simply performing ambition, she encourages readers to practice it, using emotional shorthands to name tensions without blame and giving teams ways to express feelings without setting off alarms.
This new model of ambition calls for a refreshing re-evaluation of how we see work, challenging the conventional narrative where work is often disconnected from personal values and identity. Ambition is not just about external markers of success but about creating a life and career that offer personal freedom and fulfillment.
Key differences from the traditional model include a focus on purpose and joy, freedom and fulfillment, and a re-evaluation of work relationships. Instead of ambition as relentless pursuit of career milestones, Intentional Ambition frames it as purposeful, joy-filled work that nurtures the whole person.
The future of ambition, according to Rha Goddess, isn't smaller, but smarter, more intentional, and more human. Leading from alignment instead of ego unlocks something powerful in ourselves, our teams, organizations, and communities.
Leaders who cultivate belonging hold space for honest dialogue, celebrate wins and efforts, offer clear and caring feedback, check in regularly, and set expectations with transparency and empathy. Sustainable ambition thrives in cultures of belonging, where people feel seen, heard, known, and appreciated.
Ambition should nourish us, not deplete us. A new leadership playbook, Intentional Ambition, starts with self-awareness and purpose, and scales with clarity, care, and courage. Boards and executives who want transformation should extend their comfort zone and be willing to fill roles with Gen Z and second - and third - act professionals who are rethinking and reimagining their relationship to work.
Rha Goddess also challenges leaders to set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that inspire people to grow their capacity in a healthy way. Meanwhile, a groundbreaking documentary, "Ninety-Two: The Rest Rebellion No One Saw Coming", follows a group of Black women creating a new blueprint for resistance in a society that demands their exhaustion while denying their safety and dignity, further highlighting the need for a more intentional and human approach to ambition.
- Embracing the new model of ambition as proposed by Rha Goddess, one can strive for success in a way that honors personal values, fostering a sense of joy, freedom, and fulfillment.
- In the context of business leadership, the future lies in promoting a culture of belonging, where honest dialogue, mutual appreciation, and emotional intelligence replace the hustle culture.
- The education-and-self-development sector can benefit by incorporating the principles of Intentional Ambition, helping individuals nurture self-awareness, purpose, and personal growth.
- As we move forward, career development should be about thriving without the hustle, leading to a lifestyle where ambition nourishes rather than depletes, focusing on financial stability as well as personal well-being and growth.
