Why Smart Leaders Plan Their Careers with Intention

Designing a career with intention

Many of the founders, VPs, and senior leaders I speak with are in a strong place in their careers. Their companies are performing well, their roles have meaningful scope, and there is a clear sense of forward momentum.

Interestingly, this is often when the most thoughtful career conversations begin.

My two passions – helping clients plan meaningful trips and supporting them through career transitions – have more in common than they might appear to at first glance. When people plan a trip that truly enriches them, it’s rarely rushed or triggered by something going wrong. They think carefully about where they want to go, what they want to experience, how much time they want to spend, and what pace will feel right. Careers benefit from the same approach. The most thoughtful decisions tend to be made when there is time to reflect and a clear sense of ownership over the outcome.

For many leaders, this reflection comes from ownership rather than dissatisfaction. They see their career as something to be shaped deliberately over time, not something that simply unfolds around them. Thinking ahead while things are going well creates room to make choices that align with long-term goals and personal values.

Awareness has become a leadership skill

Over the past few years, the pace at which roles evolve has increased significantly. Strategies shift more quickly, leadership teams change composition, and priorities can look quite different from one year to the next. A role that once felt expansive can gradually become narrower without that shift being immediately obvious.

In travel, this is the moment when people pause and reassess an itinerary. They notice that what sounded appealing a year ago no longer fits their energy or interests today. In careers, a similar awareness prompts leaders to step back and ask where they are headed and whether the current path still makes sense.

That’s why more leaders are spending time reflecting on questions such as:

What kind of learning curve am I on at this stage?
If the current situation continues as it is, where does this role lead over the next few years?
How is this environment contributing to my long-term growth and flexibility?

These reflections are part of an ongoing assessment that happens while things are still moving smoothly, rather than under pressure.

Optionality creates freedom

In executive search, the leaders with the greatest freedom of choice are often those who stay engaged with their trajectory over time. They keep a sense of how the market is evolving, remain visible within their professional circles, and allow themselves to explore ideas without urgency.

There is a clear parallel here with travel planning. People who build flexibility into their plans tend to enjoy the experience more. They can adapt, explore unexpected options, and make choices based on interest rather than constraint. In careers, optionality serves the same purpose. It creates space to consider opportunities thoughtfully and move forward with confidence.

Approaching your next move with intention and structure

A proactive career search works best when it is integrated naturally into professional life. Many senior opportunities take shape well before they are formally defined, which makes a steady, intentional approach particularly effective.

There are a few principles I often share with leaders who want to stay actively engaged with their future.

Nurture your network continuously
When people plan a great trip, they often rely on recommendations from people they trust. Those insights tend to come from relationships that have been built over time. Careers work much the same way. A strong network develops through regular, genuine contact, long before any specific opportunity is in sight. Staying connected consistently allows unexpected opportunities to surface organically and with context.
Keep conversations real and forward-looking
Discussing what you are curious about, what energises you, and how you are thinking about the next phase of your career gives others a clear sense of direction. In travel, this is similar to sharing the kind of experiences you value rather than a fixed destination. These conversations often open doors that were not obvious at the outset.
Stay engaged in the broader dialogue
Leaders who contribute to industry conversations, peer exchanges, and informal discussions tend to remain visible when new ideas and roles start circulating. In travel, this resembles staying open to inspiration as plans take shape. Being present and engaged keeps you connected to possibilities that may never be formally announced.
Pay attention to patterns and signals
Expansion plans, organisational shifts, and leadership capacity questions often emerge through conversation rather than announcements. In travel planning, people look for patterns such as seasonality, local context, or emerging destinations. In careers, noticing these signals provides early insight into opportunities that are still forming.
View career planning as an ongoing process
The most effective searches evolve alongside a role. Information is gathered gradually, assumptions are tested over time, and priorities become clearer with each conversation. This mirrors how the best trips are shaped over time, with room for adjustment and discovery rather than rigid plans.

Why “fine” is often the right moment

Career resilience today is closely tied to awareness and intention. Staying engaged with your direction while things are going well allows for more thoughtful decision-making and a stronger sense of agency.

Many of the most rewarding trips, and the most meaningful career moves, are shaped well in advance, when there is time to reflect, explore, and choose deliberately.

That is why so many smart leaders are thinking about their next move right now.

Because they have the space to do so.

And because things are fine.

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What are your key takeaways from this post? How do you see these ideas shaping executive search and leadership strategies in your organization?

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