Things truly flow for some leaders. They’re organised and in control. Their energy levels are always impressive. Their relationships are first-rate. They seem to always feel really good.
And here’s the clincher: As a consequence they’re able to genuinely focus on their targeted outcomes and set the scene for real leadership success.
Contrasting these “in-the-flow” leaders are those who seem to sit on the edge of a precipice. For them, it feels like something or someone is tugging at their sleeve, pulling them off balance, dragging them off centre.
What’s behind this menacing wobble?
Here Are Some Thought Starters…
Routinely these on the precipice leaders are neglecting something.
Let’s check out where you think you’re sitting on the continuum between being an “in-the-flow” leader and being an “on-the-precipice” leader:
- In your job. For example:—Do you spend your days and weeks in overwhelm because of a workload issue that you haven’t resolved?
—I know a couple of “offices” that look like a bomb hit them. Does your office represent you as an organised professional?
—Maybe your mammoth Inbox has your blood pressure rising when you notice that you’ve been delinquent with some email responses?
- In an at-work or an out-of-work relationship. For example:—Where is there conflict, or where do you need to take action to reduce the tension that currently exists?
—Are your family and friends appreciating you, or do you need to make shifts so they find it easier to appreciate you? (It doesn’t feel so bad when it’s expressed that way, does it?
—Do you habitually let your work colleagues, family and friends know that you appreciate them? (Now that, and its ripple effects, not only have you both feeling good, it’s healthy for productivity!)
- In your lifestyle. For example:—Has your car caused you to be unreliable because it breaks down? Or is it such a mess that you’re embarrassed to transport a colleague to a business meeting?
—Is your home filled with so much stuff that you have a difficult job finding things, like unpaid bills?
—What’s getting too much or too little of your attention? Are you working too hard or playing too hard? Or both?
- Regarding your current or future personal finances. For example:—How settled do you feel when you think about money? Is it a source of tension for you that needs a resolution?
—How certain are you about where you stand with your finances? What’s on track and what’s less well on track with things like investments, capital for special events, superannuation, savings, retirement planning?
—Are you loosing sleep because your current financial situation isn’t going to cut it down the track when your income will reduce?
- A health or appearance issue. For example:—Do you have a medical issue that needs to be resolved, perhaps through a doctor, dental, optician or gym appointment?
—Maybe your teeth are a-long-way-off-white and your breath lacks freshness?
—Is the incidence of cat or dog hair on your business clothing frequently a point of conversation? (Hmmm, with two longhaired, white cats I plead guilty here!)
Your Leadership Call to Action
Trust me, neglecting these sorts of everyday issues will lead to disturbances that put you closer to the precipice end of your continuum. And you don’t need to constantly be pulled off-centre and held back from focussing on your targeted outcomes, do you?
Your call to action is simple and straightforward, and it will be lucrative:
- Invest ten-minutes in doing a quick audit. You could dedicate ten-minutes of thinking time as you’re driving, walking or eating. For example:
- Consider what could be pulling you off-centre. Think about your job, relationships, lifestyle, finances, appearance and health.
As you reflect on where your stressors could be, take a position of curiousity:
“I wonder where, in my job, I could eliminate the uneasiness I feel?”
“Which of my relationships could do with smoothing?”
“Thinking about my lifestyle, what feels organised and under control, and what’s more haphazard or a bit haywire?”
“Financially, what is it that produces pressure or tension for me?”
“Where could I spruce up my appearance? What appointments do I need to make to keep my physiology in tip-top condition?”
Be fussy, be fastidious, be tough as you do your wall-to-wall review of your life.
- Once you’ve identified your areas of opportunity, resolve to resolve them.Don’t wait. Procrastination will stop you from being the leader you could be! Immediate action will have you feeling good—and being an organised, energised leader who’s set for success
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Carolyn Stevens has worked with leaders for more than 25-years—hundreds of them.
She’s supported leader after leader (including those who previously struggled to confront the difficult, let alone persuasively deal with the it) flourish—and become confident, courageous and impressively influential.
Carolyn is authentic and results-oriented. She draws on an eclectic array of approaches, tools and techniques to suit the situation.
