Your life reflects back from the mirror created by the outcome of your decisions. In every situation, how you handle yourself is solely your choice. How you choose―right from the tiny ones to the major ones―decides where you lead your journey to who you become.

In this saga, influence plays a dual role. You get influenced. And you make an impact. True leadership is the personality with minimum outside influence and maximum impact. Or, in Michael Doyle’s crystal words, “Effective leadership starts with leaders who know how to lead themselves first. This creates clarity of vision and a deeper understanding of the why behind what they seek. When leaders learn to lead themselves, it creates self-awareness, improves wellness, and enhances their emotional intelligence. Leaders must also realize that they work for their teams first and foremost.”

As an expert in peak performance, through his consultancy, Doyle It In Inc., he ensures his consulting creates an impact by first assessing the leaders within the organization. “I want to know who they are, how they think, their belief systems, habits, and current approach to being a leader.”

Doyle’s role as a consultant is to ensure he empowers the leaders so they can truly support and lead their teams. He ensures leaders know the strengths within all team members so they can delegate with clarity to fully leverage the innate skills within the organization. Doyle knows he’s made a powerful impact on the leadership and teams when the people in the organization start to work in a collective flow. “Now… they become unstoppable.”

Winning the Battle Within―Choosing Perspective Over Perception

You might have heard Doyle speak about the difference between perception (micro-level view) and perspective (macro-level view) and how one should develop a keen perspective to become an efficient leader. Many of his clients also speak often about his ability to see the ‘bigger picture’ without losing sight of the human side of business. When asked about how he developed that balance between strategic foresight and empathy, Doyle smiles at first. Then articulating his words, he speaks carefully, “This question is interesting because it assumes strategic foresight and empathy operate as separate disciplines. It has been my experience that strategic foresight requires elements of empathy, discernment, assertiveness, integrity, and courage.” Strategy must be rooted in the human elements within your team. A comprehensive understanding of all areas of your business is needed to create effective strategies with clarity and laser focus. Leading your staff, ensuring clarity of vision and roles, while navigating the marketplace within your vertical, is key.

Empathy when dealing with team dynamics and workplace morale, productivity, wellness, and overall culture will increase your chances of developing a strong team. When you and your team work smarter, not harder, you will fully serve the macro vision and the micro in the day-to-day operations.

Good companies are a dime a dozen, but great companies are a natural byproduct of having great teams and effective systems. “If the people in your organization feel seen, heard, understood, supported, and appreciated, they will go above and beyond to support you and the vision for your company.”

Difficult Decisions Define a Leader

It shows the depth of Doyle’s own perspective. He, too, like other experts, believes that leadership often comes down to making difficult decisions. In his case, such moments came when he faced several critical choices. However, his deeply ingrained values always shaped the outcomes in his favour. Because to him, leadership isn’t a role for the faint of heart. You are frequently faced with difficult situations that require you to have uncomfortable conversations that most people try to avoid. Having self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the courage to face these challenges as they arise will increase your overall success.

They say repetition is the mother of skill, and over time, you will develop the skills, mindset, and courage required to navigate challenging situations. Only experience will allow you to navigate these obstacles with confidence, clarity, and assertiveness.

Whenever he is faced with a difficult situation, Doyle makes sure to take time to get perspective versus his own perceptions that are filtered through his personal lens. He also taps into the energy around situations to see where the energy is either contracting or expanding. During his career, he has made many difficult decisions, which have always freed up space to focus his energy where it matters most.

“I believe Chaos reveals character, and my values have and will always shape how I navigate difficult decisions.”

His Core Consulting DNA

The term ‘business consultant’ covers a vast spectrum. Doyle, too, agrees. There are many styles of consulting that play key roles in supporting the growth and scaling of companies in various industries, he says. The core ‘DNA’ of his consulting relates to his expertise in peak performance and human potential, in addition to “My extensive business strategy experience.” Many consultants focus solely on systems, strategies, or marketing. These areas are indeed crucial, but where the rubber hits the road in any business, “It’s the people in your organization that will make or break your success.”

“Yes, I do ensure to assess and understand your operations and divisions within your organization to effectively implement the systems and strategies needed,” he explains. However, he has also mastered how to motivate, support, and empower your teams to fully ignite the soul of your business.

One might ask what Doyle’s unique DNA and consulting approach mean in terms of tangible results for the companies he works with. He effectively gets everyone in the same boat, rowing in the same direction, excited to be there, knowing where they fit in, and how they individually contribute to the team and vision.

Peak Performance―the Fuel of Great Leadership

Using his vast experience, Doyle found out the top three qualities leaders will need in 2025 and beyond to inspire teams and drive sustainable growth. Giving the background, he says, “I was fortunate to co-author the book ‘Peak Performance, Mindset Tools for Entrepreneurs,’ where I explored how peak performance fuels great leadership. I felt there were five mindsets that supported being an effective leader. The mindsets are: lead yourself first, you work for your team, support their personal growth, leverage the strengths in your team, and learn to harness a collective ‘flow state’ within your teams.”

When he thought about these mindsets, Doyle pondered what the top traits a leader must have to create the culture and team dynamics that foster a collective flow within the organization. “Although it’s honestly hard to only list three, I would have to say integrity, excellent communication skills, and decisive decision-making abilities.”

The people in your organization are the foundation of your business. People will trust leaders who consistently demonstrate integrity. Making hard decisions, navigating industry and organizational changes, while creating a culture that’s open and transparent, requires excellent communication skills. Finally, decisive decision-making develops a deeper trust from your team members while moving the needle forward on the bigger vision.

Creating Simplicity from Complexity

In his long career, Doyle has worked with organizations of different sizes and cultures. When probed about how he adapts his leadership advice for a multinational boardroom versus a fast-growing startup, he informs, “I find when supporting organizations, no matter the size or industry, the core foundation, fundamentals, and approach are always similar.” Yes, the scale and complexity will change, yet the basic approach stays the same. The more moving pieces in a company, the more excited he gets because of how he is wired. He believes genius is in creating simplicity from complexity.

Some companies are successful because of how they operate, while others are successful despite how they operate. “I think of Jim Collins and his book, Good to Great. I believe great companies must have great leaders, a clear vision, effective systems, and a cohesive team that works smarter, not harder.” Doyle often utilizes systems and frameworks like the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) because he feels it is simple, concise, and highly effective.

His consulting yields effective results because he has proven systems and approaches and naturally adapts to support in a way that is meaningful for the organization’s growth and trajectory. He quickly identifies what’s working and what isn’t, shining a light on the core issues and opportunities.

How to Turn the Tides?

Many leaders today are navigating uncertainty and market disruptions. Sharing his process for turning volatility into opportunity for his clients, Doyle says that he fully believes every adversity yields an equal or greater opportunity. “My process in helping organizations navigate uncertainty or market disruptions is clear and consistent.” In the entrepreneurial operating system, they look at issues both short-term and long-term. The process is called IDS, which stands for identify, discuss, and solve.

It continues to be his experience that many teams have mastered identifying and discussing the issues, yet neglect solving them. “I feel you must only spend five percent of your time on the issues and ninety-five percent on the solutions.” The five percent is to clearly frame the issue and identify the key players who are required to discuss and solve it.

With all key players in the room, you can discuss and make clear decisions based on the possible solutions suggested. Clearly identify and document what the next steps are, who’s accountable, and what the timelines are. “Once the action steps are clear and agreed to, your team takes the actions agreed on, then assess during the weekly updates to decide next steps.”

The HROI

Beyond business metrics, Doyle often emphasizes the ‘human return on investment.’ Explaining it practically, he says that what success is for one person is different from what success means for someone else. “I fully believe that the best indicator of success is the level of joy and fulfillment you experience day to day.” He realizes this isn’t a common view, but as an expert in peak performance, he knows people can only reach self-mastery when they learn to intentionally fuel their mind, body, and spirit daily.

The ‘human return,’ to Doyle, is when the people in your teams are motivated, productive, and excited for the journey ahead. He consistently sees patterns when helping people in teams. Most of them are either feeling stuck or are ready for their next level, but are unclear what that looks like or where to start.

“Studies show that forty to fifty percent of our daily actions are habitual, so unless we gain clarity, we are often stuck in a fixed mindset. Once we decide to flip the switch to a growth mindset, everything starts to change.” The human return he helps create for organizations is people and teams that are thriving.

Walking in the Path of His Father

Mentorship has been a recurring theme in Doyle’s career narrative. Asked about his most influential mentors and how he pays that forward to the next generation of leaders, Doyle shares, “I believe that no matter who you are or what you have created, you simply didn’t do it alone. I guarantee that at certain points throughout your journey, people have helped you along the way. As Jim Rohn always said, “You are the average of the top five people you spend the most time with.” Yes, we have free will, our own beliefs, and disciplines; however, our environment will influence our experiences and overall trajectory in life.”

“We all have the power to support others and spark them to believe by providing an outside perspective.” Doyle had several role models throughout his journey, yet his dad was the most influential. Growing up, he spent a lot of time outside working with his father. “I learned a lot about discipline, the importance of a good day’s work, and the power of simply being honest. There is one saying that I still find myself repeating often, which is, “An honest man has nothing to fear.”

Doyle pays it forward by guiding others as people have guided him.

The Soul-Seeker and the Ripple Effect

Finally, his only leadership principle without hesitation that is something he’d want to be remembered for, is to journey inward consistently. “I know from experience that the journey inward is the most important trek we can take in life.” The more you grow, the greater capacity you will have to serve others.

“We can only lead others as far as we have led ourselves,” believes Doyle, who loves the expression ‘know thyself and you shall know the universe and the gods.’ “We can sometimes spend much of our lives looking outside ourselves for happiness, fulfillment, and love. However, all these things must be found on the inside first. As above so below, as within so without.”

Maya Angelou wrote, ‘your legacy is every life you touch.’ Let that sink in for a minute. “We are the ripple in the ocean, yet the ocean in the ripple, and our soul will always seek fuller expression. What I know for certain is whatever your soul is seeking, is seeking you.”

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