“Genius does what it must, and Talent does what it can.“
Owen Meredith
Being a leader is not a position, it’s a set of attitudes and behaviors, as well as an ability to lead and influence one’s ecosystem.
One of the essential qualities of a good leader is self-kindness. It will enable them to genuinely show kindness to their collaborators!
Kindness is directly linked to one’s attitude and current mood. It’s contagious, whether it’s good or bad. I encourage you to cultivate a positive mood that helps overcome any situation in a positive way.
Taking care of oneself is an investment in the short and long term, and since some leaders have chosen to openly discuss the challenges they face, this subject is no longer taboo.
“ Mens sana in corpore sano. “
Juvenal
Our mindset heavily depends on our lifestyle. Finding the balance between relaxation and work involves managing our time and energy. While the number of hours in a day remains fixed, the same cannot be said for our available energy. So, stop sacrificing yourself or getting lost in professional or family obligations, and to do that, create a schedule that respects your mental and physical balance, as well as your desires and personal needs:
- Empower your people through strengthened delegation, by entrusting your colleagues with responsibility and reducing control. The goal is to reserve 2 to 4 hours per week for yourself, excluding crisis situations, of course.
- Don’t hesitate to seek help before reaching burnout, and listen to what your body is telling you through chronic and persistent pain, poor sleep, digestive issues, or attention problems. Your loved ones know you well, so take their remarks about your unusual behavior or mood into account.
- Increase your rate of « no » responses, or if you prefer, « yes, and at the same time… » to your colleagues and clients, in order to preserve and protect yourself.
- Eliminate activities that bring you no value and stop wasting time, as YOUR TIME is precious. Not only will you have more time for yourself, but you will also be more calm and available for what is strategic and essential to you.
Also, learn to manage the energies that drive you and are closely interconnected: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
- A good lifestyle enhances well-being, physical energy, and even performance. The leader must set the right example. The approach can be quite varied: through nutrition, physical activity, meditation, or even scheduling preventative appointments with your osteopath three times a year is highly effective!
- To boost your emotional energy, develop your emotional intelligence and infuse joy into your life: celebrate everyday victories and successes, even if they are minor. Play your favorite instrument, sing, dance, savor good moments, and above all, express your gratitude whenever you have the chance. Alternate between moments of high energy for peak performance and moments of low energy to recharge.
- Preserve your mental load by managing your moments of disconnection and focusing more on your weaknesses. Distinguish between urgent and important matters, and concentrate on mono-tasking to strengthen your full presence.
- Spiritual energy flourishes when you have found your purpose, your life’s mission, your path. What do you contribute to? What is the meaning of your actions? What goal goes beyond your self-interest?
Do you know your qualities and talents in order to work within your flow zone, where everything is smooth and easy? There is a distinction between working in your zone of excellence (skills) and working in your zone of genius (innate talents). Aiming for your flow zone is important for personal fulfillment.
Sigmund Freud stated that « Happiness is a childhood dream realized in adulthood. » You have acquired skills through hard work, but your natural talents have been with you since childhood. Take stock and redefine your goals to align more with your inherent ambition!
“ To love others and care for them is to act with humanity.
To understand them is to act with virtue. “Confucius
The leader has a mission and will put all their strengths in service of this mission. A leader is an « influencer, » as mentioned earlier, with a mental, emotional, and social life. Today in 2023, a new skill is expected from the leader: taking care of their teams. The great leaders are those who care about their teams. They are not solely serving their own needs or ambitions, but the mission and others’ well-being.
Caring for others creates a relationship that goes far beyond the simple professional hierarchy. It involves a personal involvement from both parties, an exchange around a common mission.
Trust, empowerment, and listening are essential qualities for a leader: trust enables them to delegate tasks, which relieves them and empowers their team. Attentive listening values the team and motivates them to excel. You have every interest in surrounding yourself with compassionate individuals, as Richard Branson puts it:
“If you take care of your employees, they will take care
of your company.”
Finding the right balance between action and listening becomes a key skill of the modern leader. This involves listening to their teams, understanding the societal changes driven by a generation that no longer tolerates certain behaviors like #metoo #blacklivesmatter, and knowing how to listen to oneself as well!
And you, are you a potential or aspiring caring leader?
#leader #coaching #listening #care