Vision
Execution
January 7, 2025

EP 159: Purposeful Leader — GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft

Contributor
Whitney Putnam
Whitney Putnam
Vice President of Marketing
|
Global Leadership Network
David Ashcraft
David Ashcraft
President and CEO
|
Global Leadership Network

“Vision leaks” is a well-known leadership axiom, and to kick off January’s theme of being a “purposeful leader,” Whitney Putnam sits down with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft. In this conversation, they explore the role purpose and mission has in David’s life and leadership. We’ll also hear about some common pitfalls that leaders can face regarding purpose, and how he has learned to guard against them.

IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Does David do New Years’ Resolutions?

  • How would David describe his life’s purpose?

  • What can people do to discover a purpose that lasts?

  • What can leaders do if an organization starts to drift from its purpose or mission?

  • How did David learn the importance of maintaining clarity and focus?

  • For David, who modeled the quality of consistently showing up, day after day?

  • How do you keep showing up to do your job if it doesn’t align with your passion?  

LISTEN

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

STANDOUTS AND TAKEAWAYS

  • Focus on simplicity; don’t try to do too many things.

  • The leader’s job is to be the gatekeeper of the vision, to say no to things that might pull the organization off track.

  • Even after you spend months crafting the perfect vision statement, it will inevitably leak. Repetition is crucial.

  • After you establish your purpose, everything you do should be measured against it.

  • Oftentimes, people will get bored with vision and purpose and want to try new things. Sometimes the leader needs to remind people that winning comes from being consistent and doing their job.  

LINKS MENTIONED

Supervising People
,
Performance Management
,
Culture
,
June 10, 2026

Ep 210: What Leaders Miss About Motivation, Purpose and Progress

In this episode, GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft talks with Chris McChesney, author of The 4 Disciplines of Execution, about the difference between employee satisfaction and true engagement. Chris explains why people can have what looks like an ideal job and still feel disconnected from the work, while others can serve in demanding environments and remain deeply motivated. The difference often comes down to progress and purpose.

Leading Organizations
Leading Others
Communication
,
Conflict Management
,
Culture
,
June 3, 2026

Ep 209: Communication, Candor and Trust

In this episode, Whitney Putnam and GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft talk about one of the most common leadership challenges: how to communicate with clarity, candor and care when the stakes are high. They unpack a real moment from a recent GLN all-staff meeting, where a public challenge created tension, required follow-up and ultimately helped sharpen strategy. Whitney and David explore why leaders often think they are being clear when others are hearing something different, how trust makes hard conversations possible, and why “keeping short accounts” can prevent tension from becoming toxic.

Leading Organizations
Leading Others
Emotional Intelligence
,
Confidence
,
Calling
,
May 6, 2026

Ep 206: When Leadership Gets Hijacked: Reclaiming Your Focus, Identity, and Definition of Success (with David Ashcraft)

In this episode, Whitney Putnam sits down with David Ashcraft to unpack the internal and external “hijacks” that pull leaders off course. They explore how even confident leaders can fall into comparison traps, how self-doubt often disguises itself in different ways, and why defining success based on others’ metrics leads to frustration.

Leading Yourself
Leading Organizations

Leadership That Lasts

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