Mastering the Inner Life of a Leader

In this inaugural episode of Execution Insights™: The Podcast, Jim Huling invites listeners into a different kind of leadership conversation—one that doesn’t begin with strategies, spreadsheets, or performance metrics, but with something far more lasting: the inner life of a leader.

Every leader knows the demands of the outer life—delivering results, hitting deadlines, producing outcomes. These things matter. But what truly sustains leaders—and what their teams remember most—comes from a deeper place inside.

To illustrate this, Jim shares a deeply personal story from his time as a CIO. Nearly two decades ago, he wrote a short handwritten note of encouragement to a young woman on his team. Eighteen years later, in a chance encounter, she walked up to him and said, “I still have the note you wrote me.” That simple act of presence and belief had stayed with her through different jobs and different seasons of life—not because it was a clever strategy, but because it spoke to her heart.

This is the essence of the inner life of leadership.

In this episode, listeners will discover three foundational dimensions that shape the leader they become:

• Faith – Not necessarily religious faith, but the trust leaders place in their vision, in their people, and in a future they can’t yet see.
• Humility – The quiet strength that puts the mission and the team above ego, creating space for others to thrive.
• Presence – The rare but transformative gift of giving someone full attention in a world that constantly pulls everyone toward distraction.

Jim doesn’t present these qualities as abstract ideals, but as the everyday practices that make the difference between leadership that is temporary and leadership that lasts.

Throughout the conversation, listeners are invited to reflect on powerful questions:

• What sustains you when the pressure mounts?
• What practices keep your inner life strong?
• What will people remember as the lasting impact of being led by you?

The Inner Life of a Leader is more than an introduction to a podcast. It is a call to slow down, to look inward, and to cultivate the qualities that make leadership not just effective, but unforgettable.

If you’ve ever wondered what separates leaders who leave a legacy from those who simply produce results, this episode will give you both the answer and the inspiration to begin building it in your own life.