Chapter 5 Bringing It All Together: Living the 7C
The Inner Work of Leadership: The Threshold of Self-awareness Before a leader can truly embody the 7Cs, there is a foundational, often invisible – but absolutely essential – step: self-awareness. This is not an 8th C, but rather the threshold every leader must cross to move from Confidence (in oneself) to Consideration (for others). As an experienced leader shared: “I have observed that most people, especially leaders, experience extreme tension from feeling like they ‘never do enough’ or ‘must always do more.’ The 7C model provides a human-centered framework that allows us to be fully present, to discover who we are and how we show up to others, while dismantling the negative
The 7C Moral Ambition Leadership Compass is more than just a set of principles. It is a living framework that comes to life through daily practice, ongoing self-awareness, and a commitment to grow through challenges. This chapter explores how to integrate the 7Cs into your leadership, how to cultivate a 7C culture within your team, and how to navigate the behavioral pitfalls that can trap even the best-intentioned leaders. To fully live the 7Cs, it is essential to understand who you truly are. Your Unique Ability (Dan Sullivan) – that combination of natural talents that brings you joy and energy – is the inner force that will guide your leadership. The Japanese call this Ikigai (Jeffrey Gaines, Ph.D): the intersection of what you love, what you excel at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. For a deeper dive, see Appendix C: Discovering Your Unique Ability and Ikigai.
In-group favoritism drives us to favor those who are like us, often unconsciously.
The shift from Confidence to Consideration therefore requires a moment of truth: acknowledging that your perspective, no matter how informed, is limited by your lived experience. This moment can be uncomfortable, messy, even painful. But it is precisely in that discomfort that transformation begins. Critical Questions to Cross the Threshold • What privileges do I have that shape my worldview without my awareness? • Who are my “translators,” the people who can help me see my blind spots? • Which voices are absent from my circle of Confidence? • When have I been surprised to learn about the negative impact of my well-intentioned actions?
stressors in our lives.” – D. Hydon, MaCher
The 7Cs do not change who you are – they amplify your best self.
Use the Self-Awareness Audit (ref) to explore these questions in depth.
Why This Work Is Necessary Without self-awareness, Consideration risks becoming performative – a façade of inclusion without real transformation. Social psychology research shows that we all have blind spot bias: we notice the biases of others but rarely our own.
31 THE 7C LEADERSHIP COMPASS FOR MORAL AMBITION 2025 JONATHAN NORMAND. CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE
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