Every leader drifts.
Those who notice have a choice.

Welcome to leadership, rewritten.
Author Leadership Icon Black and white geometric circular pattern with symmetrical lines and shapes.

Author Leadership helps high-capacity leaders and teams cultivate clarity, confidence, and character that lasts.

In a culture addicted to hustle and performance, we offer a restorative path back to authentic influence. We help leaders trade pressure for presence and tactics for transformation.

Trusted by leaders across industries

Vanderbilt Medical KPMG Main Street Arcare SEI Tractor Supply Company Vanderbilt University Cigna Delta Blue Christ Presbyterian Academy Vanderbilt Medical KPMG Main Street Arcare Stonebrook Media SEI Tractor Supply Company Vanderbilt University Cigna Delta Blue Christ Presbyterian Academy
Jonathan Payne smiling man sitting on a tan armchair, wearing a black puffer vest over a beige long-sleeve shirt, with a neutral background.

I’m Jonathan.

Every leader is living a story, but few have the space to understand the one they are actually writing. Author Leadership was created to help leaders slow down, get clear, and lead with intention instead of pressure.

Founded by Jonathan Payne, the practice draws on years spent inside high-stakes environments from the NFL League Office to boutique consulting firms advising Fortune 100 executives and early-stage founders. Along the way, Jonathan saw a consistent truth: most challenges are not about strategy or skill. They are about clarity, alignment, and the internal stories leaders carry.

Author Leadership exists to guide leaders back to that clarity, helping them name who they are becoming and lead from a place of grounded presence. This is leadership work, but it is also human work.

Read Jonathan’s full story →

How we can help

Every leader’s story is different, but the work always begins in the same place: honest reflection, clear insight, and intentional next steps. Author Leadership offers several ways to engage, depending on your season, capacity, and goals.

  • A personalized coaching partnership for leaders who want a steady, confidential space to process what’s really going on and make intentional shifts in how they live and lead. Coaching combines in-depth assessments, reflective questions, structured frameworks, and concrete action plans tailored to your context.

    Learn more about Coaching

  • A six-month cohort experience for high-capacity leaders who are ready to level up. The Accelerator blends assessments, workshops, cohort dialogue, and optional 1:1 coaching to help you clarify your story, recalibrate your leadership, and establish sustainable rhythms of growth.

    Explore the Accelerator

  • Focused, offsite experiences designed to help leadership teams slow down, tell the truth, and realign around what matters most. Retreats integrate guided reflection, story work, and strategic conversation and actionable next steps so you leave with renewed clarity and shared commitments.

    Plan a Retreat

Explore our services

In their own words

Neal Patel in a navy blazer and gray pants sitting on a barstool against a brown background, smiling at the camera.
Neal Patel, A smiling man in a blue suit and white shirt standing against a neutral background.

Chief Information Officer
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Neal Patel

“Don't let his youthful look throw you, and underestimate him. I am extremely impressed with his acumen, his knowledge and storytelling. It allows people to be themselves and for him to draw them in. He is not one of the typical consultants who engineers cookie cutter techniques—the way he approaches situations is extremely methodical and intentional.”

Alicia Wilson with blonde hair laughing or smiling, wearing a black blazer over an olive-green shirt and dark jeans, standing against a brown textured background.
Alicia Wilson sitting on a brown chair, smiling, wearing a black blazer, green t-shirt, gray pants, and jewelry, with a brown textured background.

Alicia Wilson

Managing Director
SEI Nashville

“I love how Jonathan blends the philosophical and the academic side of things with the very tangible and nitty gritty things. I come away with educational learning as well as a very applicable learning. I have these data points and stories from incredible researchers, but I'm able to apply it to my day-to-day. 
That's something I would never do on my own—pull out those quick data points or summarize a book in one sentence for myself. That is really powerful.”

A man sitting on a wooden stool in front of a plain brown backdrop, wearing a black vest, long-sleeve plaid shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots, smiling and looking to the left.
A man sitting on a wooden chair against a plain brown background. He has short brown hair and is wearing a light checkered button-up shirt, a black zip-up vest with a logo that reads 'Main Street', and dark blue jeans. His hands are clasped together on his lap, and he has a neutral expression.

Bennett Graham

“What sets Author Leadership apart is this balance between enough structure and enough space. There is an intentional thoughtfulness around a person's whole life experience without necessarily pretending to be a licensed counselor. The program is focused on how this individual can progress as a leader, but in the context of their whole life.”

See more reviews

100+

Across healthcare, finance, education, nonprofit, and professional services—each navigating their own mix of pressure, responsibility, and change.

Leaders Coached

15+

From the NFL league office to executive coaching and nonprofit work, Jonathan brings deep experience with complex systems and very human leaders.

Years Experience

6

Our six-month Accelerator is intentionally designed to move beyond quick fixes and help you build sustainable practices, not just temporary inspiration.

Month Turnaround

This is leadership, rewritten.

Stylized circular geometric pattern with overlapping shapes and lines in black and white.

Start owning
your story

If you sense drift—professionally or personally—this is your invitation to slow down and take an honest look. A simple conversation can open the path to clarity, courage, and renewal.