Leadership isn’t just about strategy, KPIs, or organizational goals. It’s about people. And people are complex.
Over the years, I’ve worked with hundreds of leaders and discovered a simple yet powerful way to understand and support individuals, whether professionally or personally.
It’s called the Head, Heart, and House Framework.
This framework has helped leaders at every level strengthen relationships, improve team performance, and lead with greater clarity and confidence. Today, I want to share it with you.
The Framework: Head, Heart, and House
At its core, the framework focuses on three critical areas of a person:
1. Head: The cognitive and mental processes that shape how someone thinks, processes information, and makes decisions.
2. Heart: The emotional drivers, core values, and motivations that guide someone’s actions.
3. House: The personal life factors that influence behavior, stability, and decision-making.
When these three areas are understood and aligned, leaders create environments where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Start with Yourself
Before applying this framework to your team, start with self-reflection. Leadership begins with self-awareness.
Ask yourself:
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What drives my thinking and decisions?
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What fuels my motivation and values?
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How does my personal life influence my work?
Self-awareness isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a superpower. Knowing where you stand in these areas gives you the clarity to better understand and support others.
Applying the Framework to Your Tea
1. Head: Unlocking Cognitive Potential
Your team’s performance depends on how well you understand how they think and process information.
Ask:
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How do you prefer to process information?
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Do you like to make decisions quickly, or do you need time to reflect?
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What’s your natural problem-solving style?
When you align tasks with an individual’s cognitive strengths, you unlock their potential.
2. Heart: Building Emotional Connection
People don’t work for companies—they work for people they trust and connect with.
Explore:
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What motivates you deeply?
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How do you want to feel appreciated?
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What personal values guide your actions?
Connecting with someone’s heart builds trust, loyalty, and a culture of shared purpose.
3. House: Supporting Stability
This is often overlooked but critical. A person’s personal life directly impacts their professional performance.
Consider:
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Are there challenges at home that may affect focus?
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How does their current life stage (e.g., parenthood, caregiving) shape their priorities?
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What external stresses or supports influence their daily decisions?
The most erratic and irregular decision-making I’ve seen in leaders stems from stress related to their House. Conversely, the most balanced and successful leaders have continuity at home and work.
Drivers and Detractors: The Key to Success
For each area of the framework, there are positive (drivers) and negative (detractors) forces at play:
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Head: Skill development (driver) vs. decision fatigue (detractor)
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Heart: Recognition (driver) vs. burnout (detractor)
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House: Work-life balance (driver) vs. personal stress (detractor)
When you reduce detractors and amplify drivers, you create an environment where individuals and teams can thrive.
The Biggest Lesson from Working with 100s of Leaders
Stress from unresolved issues in the House is the most common detractor I’ve seen and the biggest barrier to consistent, rational decision-making.
On the flip side, continuity at home and work creates balanced, successful leaders.
Applying the Framework
The Head, Heart, and House Framework has helped hundreds of scaling leaders improve how they lead their teams—both individually and collectively.
Now it’s your turn.
Are you ready to take your leadership to the next level?
Here’s how you can start:
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Reflect on your own Head, Heart, and House.
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Use the questions above to deepen your understanding of your team.
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Focus on creating environments where people feel supported in all three areas.
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