DWL’s 7P Leadership Revitalization Framework

Leadership is like tending a garden - it requires attention to both immediate needs and long-term growth. This framework offers practical ways to stay energized and effective, especially during challenging times. It's about making your good work sustainable while expanding your impact.

Perspective

Like standing at the edge of a river, see both the details and the broader flow

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Map where you have room to experiment and influence change in your work.

Change often starts at the edges, where flexibility meets opportunity.

Presence

Find your center when everything is spinning

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Take three intentional breaks today to pause, breathe, and reset your focus.

In the pause between action and reaction lies our power to choose.

Pleasure

Let your natural enthusiasm fuel your leadership

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Notice which parts of your work make time fly by. Create space for more of them.

Energy flows where attention goes - especially when it's something you enjoy.

People

Build the web of relationships that sustains good work

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Connect with someone whose perspective challenges or inspires you.

Like a strong root system, relationships provide both stability and growth.

Performance

Honor the basics that keep you grounded

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Pay attention to sleep, water, movement, and nutrition - your foundation matters.

You can't pour from an empty cup. Taking care of basics keeps your cup full.

Possibility

See constraints as invitations to creativity

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When facing an obstacle, brainstorm three unexpected paths forward.

Every limit is a doorway to innovation, if we're willing to look differently.

Power

Expand your circle of influence through authentic engagement

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Identify where your voice or actions could help move something important forward.

True influence ripples outward from consistent, values-aligned action.

Ready to Begin?

Like a river finding its path, meaningful change begins with small shifts in the right direction. Choose one practice that speaks to your current challenges and start there. Each step builds momentum for the changes you want to see.

Traditional leadership frameworks often focus on what you need to do - skills to master, behaviors to adopt, or competencies to develop. They promise that if you follow certain steps or acquire specific abilities, you'll become a more effective leader. But these approaches can feel like adding more to your already full plate.

The Leadership Renewal Framework, developed by Jennifer Brady at Development Without Limits, takes a fundamentally different approach. Rather than giving you more to do, it helps you identify where to direct your energy for maximum impact while maintaining your vitality. Through our work with hundreds of leaders across education, nonprofit, and social change sectors, we've observed that sustainable leadership isn't about doing more - it's about choosing wisely where to focus your attention and energy.

Drawing from research in positive psychology, organizational behavior, and systems thinking, including works by Dacher Keltner, Rita McGrath, and Donella Meadows, this framework addresses what traditional approaches often miss: the conditions that allow you to thrive while leading complex change. Over fifteen years of supporting leaders through significant challenges, we've seen that those who maintain their effectiveness and energy over time aren't necessarily doing more - they're being more intentional about where and how they engage.

These seven interconnected practices offer practical ways to navigate challenges while staying energized and focused on what matters most. Whether you're dealing with systemic constraints, organizational change, or personal burnout, this framework helps you find your path forward without sacrificing yourself in the process.