Empowering product teams with Intent-Based Leadership

Introduction

MilUX recently facilitated an Intent-Based Leadership (IBL) workshop at the Andover Simply Agile meetup, where we explored how shifting from a leader-follower to a leader-leader model can transform decision-making, ownership, and performance in product teams.

What is Intent-Based Leadership?

Intent-Based Leadership (IBL) is a transformative approach that shifts organisations from a top-down, command-and-control structure to a culture of trust, ownership, and empowerment. Based on the principles introduced by David Marquet in Turn the Ship Around!, IBL encourages leaders to create clarity and competence within their teams, enabling members to take initiative and make informed decisions.

These three components are key to effective IBL:

• Control: Leaders must relinquish control while retaining responsibility.
• Competence: People must be equipped with the technical knowledge and resources to make sound decisions.
• Clarity: People must be equipped with clarity on the organisation’s goal, purpose and decision-making criteria.

The Principles of Intent-Based Leadership:

Why This Matters for Defence Product Teams

By utilsing Intent-Based Leadership, product teams can expect the following benefits:

1. Faster Decision-Making: By decentralising authority, decisions are made closer to where the information resides, reducing delays and avoiding bottlenecks caused by hierarchical approval chains.
2. Higher Engagement and Ownership: Team members are trusted to make decisions, which increases their sense of responsibility, commitment, and motivation to deliver high-quality outcomes.
3. Improved Clarity and Alignment: Leaders provide the “why” and the desired outcomes, enabling teams to act confidently and purpose while staying aligned with organisational goals.
4. Increased Competence and Confidence: As individuals are encouraged to think, decide, and act, their capability and confidence grow, resulting in stronger, more autonomous teams.
5. Stronger Collaboration and Communication: The model encourages open sharing of intent, which fosters transparency, mutual understanding, and better cross-functional coordination.
6. Enhanced Adaptability: Teams empowered with intent can respond more quickly and effectively to change, making the organisation more resilient and agile.
7. Reduced Cognitive Load for Leaders: By shifting ownership to the team, leaders can focus on strategic direction and support rather than managing every detail.

Intent-Based Leadership creates a culture of trust, initiative, and continuous improvement, critical qualities for high-performing teams in complex, high-stakes environments like defence.

Find out more about Intent-Based Leadership

• Turn The Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders – L. David Marquet (Book) – This is even better as an audiobook.

• Leadership Is Language: The Hidden Power of What You Say and What You Don’t – L. David Marquet (Book).

• Start With Why: The multi-million-copy bestselling management and leadership book to help you find success – Simon Sinek (Book)

• MindSpring Presents: “Greatness” by David Marquet (Youtube)