Intent-Based Leadership

Intent-Based Leadership is a leadership philosophy. It shifts decision-making and accountability from the top levels of an organization to those closer to the work. It was developed by David Marquet, a former U.S. Navy submarine commander, who introduced it as a way to create more engaged and empowered teams.

Key Principles of Intent-Based Leadership:

1. Move Authority to Where the Information Is

• Traditional leadership is based on a “leader-follower” model where decisions are made at the top and pushed down. Intent-Based Leadership flips this by pushing authority down to those with the most relevant information.

2. Leaders Give Intent, Not Orders

• Instead of issuing commands, leaders express their “intent” (what needs to be achieved and why), allowing subordinates to determine how best to accomplish it.

• Example: Instead of saying, “Turn the ship to 270 degrees,” a leader might say, “We need to position the ship west to maintain safe distance from the coastline.”

3. Create Leaders at Every Level

• By giving people control and ownership over decisions, they develop leadership skills and confidence, leading to a culture of distributed leadership.

4. Foster Thinking and Accountability

• Teams are encouraged to think critically and take responsibility rather than wait for instructions.

• A common phrase in this approach is “I intend to…”, signaling initiative rather than waiting for permission.

5. Encourage Learning and Continuous Improvement

• A culture of learning replaces fear of making mistakes. Leaders create environments where people feel safe to innovate, learn, and take calculated risks.

6. Trust and Empowerment

• Leaders trust their people to make decisions, and employees feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for their actions.

Benefits of Intent-Based Leadership:

• Higher engagement and morale

• Increased accountability and decision-making skills across all levels

• More innovation and agility in problem-solving

• Reduced micromanagement, freeing leaders to focus on strategy

Application in Organisations:

Intent-Based Leadership is widely used in:

• Military settings (its origin)

• Corporate environments (for fostering innovation and agility)

• Healthcare and crisis management (where fast, informed decisions are crucial)

• Industrial relations (for empowering frontline employees in decision-making)

It aligns well with High Performance through Engagement (HPtE) because it encourages synergy between commercial responsibility, customer value, and culture, ensuring that leadership is a shared, dynamic process rather than a top-down directive.