🍂 Happy first day of autumn, Lab! The -ber months are officially here, and there’s something about the shift into a new season that makes it a good time to take inventory of what we’re carrying with us. In last week’s Live Lab, we talked about disappointing expectations, specifically the expectations we’ve been working to meet that may no longer align with who we are, what we value, or what this season actually requires of us. Then we went one layer deeper: once you release the expectation, what is the true priority underneath it? That distinction matters because leaders can spend enormous amounts of energy honoring an expectation long after its usefulness has expired. Sometimes the thing consuming our capacity isn’t actually a priority anymore. It’s an old agreement, an inherited expectation, or a version of success we haven’t stopped long enough to reconsider. As you listen to the recording, I want you to sit with two questions: 🍂 What expectation am I still carrying that no longer deserves the weight I’ve given it? 🍂 If I released it, what would become clearer about what actually deserves my time, energy, and attention? There are a little more than three months left in 2026. That’s plenty of time to make a meaningful shift, especially when you get clearer about what deserves to come with you. Drop something in the comments as you listen. What are you giving yourself permission to disappoint, release, or reprioritize as we move into the -ber months? Looking forward to hearing what surfaces for you. 💛

This one is for the leader who feels pressure to always have an answer. 💚 When people look to you for direction, saying “I don’t know” can feel uncomfortable. Adding “yet” gives you room to ask questions, invite another perspective, and learn before deciding. As you sit with this one, ask yourself: Where am I feeling pressure to have an answer when I actually need space to learn? Consider this your reminder: you can be capable, credible, and still figuring something out. What’s one thing you’re giving yourself permission to learn right now? Share below. 👇

September check-in time! 📊 Last month, we established our starting point. Now we're checking in again. Your Leadership Dashboard is a quick 1–2 minute monthly pulse check designed to help you notice how your leadership is shifting over our six-month journey. Don't try to remember what you answered last month, and don't overthink your responses. Answer based on where you are today. The value will come from looking back over time and noticing the patterns, progress, and changes you may not see while you're in the middle of them. No grades. No perfect scores. Just awareness. 👉 Complete your September Leadership Dashboard here: https://form.jotform.com/262516933972163 We'll keep checking in each month through January!

This one might require a little courage. 💪 Sometimes alignment means disappointing expectations that no longer fit who you are or how you want to lead. As you sit with this one, ask yourself: Whose expectations am I working hardest to meet right now, and do they still align with my values? Consider this your reminder: alignment doesn't always come with approval.

Your September Leadership Lab Journal is here! This month's journal is your space to slow down, think a little deeper, and connect what we're exploring in the Lab to the leadership you're actually living every day. Inside, you'll find this month's Leadership Lens, reflection questions, AI Thought Partner prompts, practical application, and space to capture what comes up along the way. Remember, this is not homework. You don't have to complete it in one sitting. Move through it at your own pace, bring it into our Live Labs, and use the pieces that serve you most. 📖 Download your September Leadership Lab Journal below. Think well. Lead well. Live Limitless.