I don’t know about you but my last year was pretty damned good—however that’s not stopping me from figuring out what I can do to make this year even better.
What exactly will I do? I need to shift something—a behaviour, or a habit, or an attitude I have towards something or someone—if I’m to create the better year that I’m imagining.
Go For Just One Thing At A Time
The KISS principle tells us that systems generally work best when they’re kept simple. We human beings are certainly one of those “systems”.
That tells us that you’ll do your best work when you focus on just one thing—one behaviour, habit or attitude.
So, Here’s My Plan…
What I’m about to say might sound a bit corny to some. But I absolutely know that it’s what will have me feeling great about my 2013…
For me, I’ve decided that this year is going to have me putting a bigger focus on serving others. No, not when I’m playing tennis or when I’m waitressing 
.
I’m going to up the amount of energy I put into attending to people’s needs. I’m going to help others more. I’m going to put their needs in front of mine more. (OMG, it’s out there now. I’ll have to do it or I’ll get too many taps on the shoulder .)
It’s not that I haven’t been looking after others up until now. It’s that I know how good it feels, both for me and for them, so I’m upping the ante on it this year.
My plan is to approach it from a few different angles—for example, in a more formal way by signing up to do recurring voluntary work, and making more “secret” contributions to people (i.e. doing something for a them without them ever knowing I’ve done it), and going the extra mile so I exceed the expectations and needs of leaders I’m coaching.
Enough About Me, What About You?
What one thing would you find most useful to change this year? What could you do so that you’re an even better leader?
Is it something on the outside, a behaviour—or something on the inside, an attitude?
(By the way, behavioural changes are normally easier than attitudinal changes. But a behavioural change often only sticks for the short-term. It tends to be less enduring. Alternatively, when you’re able to shift your attitude towards something you can expect that the shift will be a permanent one. Of course, as well as it being a lot more enduring, it usually precipitates a behavioural change too.)
I’m wondering, if in January 2014 you were to look back at how you’ve been as a leader during 2013, what one shift would have you feeling thoroughly pleased, even proud of yourself and what you’ve been able to enhance?
Your Leadership Call to Action
OK, let’s have the rubber-to-hit-the-road now…
- Will you judiciously select one leadership related behaviour or attitude to focus on enhancing?
- Once you’ve made your selection, create a high awareness about what you have been doing up until now.
- Then get really clear about what specifically you want to do instead.
- You’ll need to develop a reminder system—something that will pop up in your face every morning that’ll keep you focused on your developing habit.
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.
