You Know the Mission. But Do You Know Yourself?

Phil McKinney • June 30, 2025

Why Vanguard Starts With Identity in Leadership Coaching 

In the military (and all professions for that matter), mission clarity is everything. Objectives are clear, roles are defined, and execution is precise. But when it comes to leading people—especially in today’s unpredictable environments—clarity of self becomes just as important as clarity of mission. 

 

At Vanguard XXI, we’ve coached hundreds of leaders—both uniformed and civilian—and we’ve seen one truth rise again and again: leaders who understand who they are lead with more confidence, integrity, and impact. 

 

That’s why we start leadership coaching training with one simple, profound focus: identity. 

 

Why Identity Comes First 

 

In the professional world, identity is often formed by title, role, and responsibility. But leadership is personal. It goes beyond position or rank. When the mission changes—or when you transition out —who are you then? 

 

Leadership coaching that skips over identity misses the foundation. How can we expect someone to lead others if they haven’t had the space to explore what drives them, where they feel most alive, and how their past shapes their present and future? 

 

When leaders reconnect with their core values, motivations, and even blind spots, everything changes: 

  • Communication becomes more authentic. 
  • Decision-making becomes clearer. 
  • Influence becomes stronger and more sustainable. 

 

The Vanguard Way 

 

At Vanguard XXI, we believe: “You lead best when you lead from who you are.” 

 

That’s why our coaching curriculum begins not with strategy, but with self-awareness. We use identity-based tools and frameworks that help leaders answer questions like: 

  • What kind of leader am I becoming? 
  • What stories am I telling myself that no longer serve me? 
  • How do I show up when I’m at my best? 

 

This work isn’t always easy—but it’s where transformation begins. And it’s what distinguishes those who manage the mission from those who multiply impact. 

 

Know Yourself, Lead Better 

 

Mission focus will always matter. But if leaders don’t pause to understand who they are beneath the mission, they risk burnout, disconnection, or ineffective influence. 

 

The best leaders we’ve worked with know the mission—but they’ve also taken the time to know themselves deeply. 

 

That’s where real leadership begins. 

 

Want to experience Vanguard’s identity-first approach to leadership coaching? 

Visit vanguardxxi.com or reach out to learn how we help civilians, military leaders, and veterans build coaching skills—and rediscover who they are in the process. 

One Conversation Can Shift the Trajectory – Are You Making Space for It?

By Phil McKinney • July 14, 2025
Leadership is often defined by the decisions you make, the strategies you set, and the people you influence. But here’s a truth many leaders quietly carry: The higher you rise, the harder it becomes to find space for your own growth. Yet, one powerful, focused coaching conversation can shift your thinking, your strategy, and your leadership trajectory. The question is: Are you making space for it? Leadership Can Be Isolating You hold the vision. You solve the problems. You set the tone. And often, you’re expected to have the answers. But who do you get to process with? Who helps you explore what’s beneath the surface when you’re navigating complexity, doubt, or burnout? This is where coaching becomes more than a professional development tool. It has become an essential leadership practice. Coaching Isn’t for the “Fix” – It’s for the Future Coaching isn’t about correcting weaknesses. It’s about creating intentional space for reflection, clarity, and aligned action. For leaders, coaching can help: Recenter on purpose and values Break through decision fatigue and mental clutter Navigate relationships and influence more skillfully Stretch from operational to strategic thinking Avoid blind spots and reactive leadership Often, the insight that changes everything comes not from a book, a keynote, or a training—but from a coaching conversation where you are fully heard, challenged, and supported. Are You Making Space for Your Conversation? Leaders are quick to create space for others: team check-ins, one-on-ones, performance reviews. But too often, they delay or downplay their own development. Coaching requires just a few things: Time blocked for you A safe space without judgment or agenda A coach who listens deeply and challenges you gently A commitment to growth, not perfection This isn’t a luxury. It’s leadership hygiene. The Best Leaders Don’t Go It Alone Behind every great leader is a space where they aren’t leading. They’re reflecting. They’re stretching. They’re being coached. Because even the strongest leaders need a mirror. Even the most visionary thinkers need space to think. Even the most decisive decision-makers need clarity. One conversation can shift your trajectory. Are you making space for it?

Still Doing Trust Falls? It’s Time to Redefine Your Leadership Offsite — With Vanguard XXI

By Phil McKinney • July 9, 2025
Let’s be honest: If your leadership offsite still includes trust falls, escape rooms, or campfire storytelling — you’re wasting your most valuable asset: executive attention. In a world where leadership demands clarity, adaptability, and alignment, team-building is good, but isn’t enough. It’s time to trade performative bonding for purpose-driven transformation. At Vanguard XXI, we design leadership offsites that don’t just bring teams together — they change everything. A Vanguard XXI Offsite: Where Leadership Gets Real Traditional offsites may offer a temporary morale boost. But if you want lasting impact, you need more than motivation — you need methodology. That’s where our approach comes in. Here’s what sets us apart: 1. Transformational Leadership Growth We go beyond traditional training by using David Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle to ensure leaders learn by doing — and reflecting. Leaders don’t just gain insights; they experience a shift in how they think, relate, and lead. This holistic method integrates real-time feedback, structured learning loops, and personal accountability — all in the context of your organization’s real challenges. ✅ Outcome: Sustainable growth anchored in self-awareness, action, and real-world learning. 2. Moral & Ethical Decision-Making + Character Development In today’s climate, leadership isn’t just strategic — it’s moral. We help leaders explore how their values, biases, and ethical frameworks shape their decisions. Using real-world dilemmas, guided reflection, and peer dialogue, leaders develop the character and clarity to navigate complex challenges with integrity and courage. ✅ Outcome: Leaders who make high-stakes decisions grounded in ethics, not ego. 3. Emotional Intelligence Development Trust. Empathy. Composure. Influence. These aren’t soft skills — they’re leadership differentiators. We help leaders expand their emotional range, elevate their relational agility, and coach others with presence and precision. Vanguard XXI’s certified coaches use proven tools to build EQ capacity — fast. ✅ Outcome: Leaders who act as trusted advisors — not just decision-makers. 4. Leading and Coaching for High-Performance Teams Most teams don’t suffer from lack of talent — they suffer from lack of alignment and trust. Our offsites equip leaders with coaching strategies to unlock psychological safety, fuel collaboration, and create shared ownership. We don’t just talk team performance — we engineer it in the room. ✅ Outcome: Teams that leave with clarity, commitment, and a roadmap to win together. At Vanguard XXI, we want to transform offsites into launchpads for strategic clarity, team alignment, and personal growth. This isn’t just team-building exercises or roundtable discussions. It’s real-time growth in action. We create environments where leaders stop performing and start co-creating. No posturing. No politics. Just powerful dialogue, mutual goals, and actionable steps that are rooted in mutual accountability. This produces real outcomes and not just “great energry.” When this happens, everything changes. Every Vanguard XXI offsite ends with: • Clear individual commitments • Strategic next steps • Shared leadership agreements that stick Our follow-through coaching ensures offsite momentum turns into measurable results — across culture, execution, and impact. Let’s Be Clear: This Isn’t an Offsite. It’s an Inflection Point. If your team is stuck, fragmented, or just coasting — a Vanguard XXI leadership offsite can reset the system. We don’t do retreats. We architect turning points. Leadership isn’t built by falling backward into someone’s arms. It’s built by stepping forward into clarity, trust, and courageous collaboration.  Let’s design an offsite that doesn’t just feel different — it delivers different. Ready to reimagine your leadership experience? Connect with us at vanguardxxi.com or send a message to start a conversation.