Episode recap:

Marcel discussed an emerging trend of high-level executives seeking coaching to address misalignment between their inner beliefs and outer achievements, emphasizing the importance of congruence in leadership. He outlined steps for achieving congruence and invited listeners to explore congruence coaching, which focuses on inner alignment and purposeful leadership. Marcel is offering a free discovery call to determine if this approach is suitable for individuals seeking to lead from their core values and integrate purpose into both work and life. 

Book your free, 15-minute discovery call here:

https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/15-minute-discovery-call?preview_source=et_card&month=2025-06

Bio:

Marcel Schwantes is a speaker, author, and acclaimed executive coach with a global following. Marcel delivers presentations, workshops, courses, and coaching programs about the human side of business and how cultures of care, connection, and belonging power companies to thrive and outperform the competition.  

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Show Notes

Quotes:

• “Congruence is the experience of being deeply aligned, where your inner world—meaning your values, beliefs, deep emotions, and purpose—is in sync with your outer world.”
• “Authentic leadership isn’t about oversharing or emotional dumping. It’s about integrity—so your words and actions match your intentions.”
• “The most powerful leaders are not the loudest, the most exuberant, or the most polished—they are the most congruent.”  

Takeaways:

• Audit your calendar this week – remove tasks that don’t align with your top 3 personal priorities.
• Ask yourself daily: “Are my current choices moving me closer to or further from my true purpose?” 
• Set clear personal boundaries at work and practice saying no to requests that drain your energy. 
• Spend 15 minutes each morning reflecting on your core values and checking if your actions match those values. 
• Schedule a personal “alignment check” where you honestly assess if you’re showing up authentically in different areas of your life. 

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Love in Action Podcast
00:40 Today’s Topic: Self-Awareness and Limiting Beliefs
02:18 Understanding Congruence in Leadership
04:51 Steps to Achieve Congruence
08:55 Aligning Inner and Outer Worlds
13:09 The Importance of Congruence
15:37 Invitation to Congruence Coaching
18:19 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Conclusion:

Real leadership starts when actions reflect inner values, not just external goals. It’s less about titles or image and more about showing up with honesty and clarity. When leaders stop performing and start aligning with what truly matters to them, they build trust that can’t be faked. This kind of alignment not only prevents burnout, it brings deeper meaning to daily work. In the end, strong leadership is simply about being real, consistent, and purpose-driven in all that you do. 

The Book

Links/Resources: 

The book: Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-Ass Boss

Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/MarcelSchwantes
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1
Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/

Schedule a free call: https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/15-minute-discovery-call?preview_source=et_card&month=2025-06

Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors

We would be delighted to accept your sponsorship for future episodes as we challenge current management thinking and practices and build skills around human leadership and human-centered work cultures. If interested, contact Marcel.