“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:
Also, learn to manage the energies that drive you and are closely interconnected: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
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
Transform your organization through the support of your leaders and their teams. Be&Lead offers custom transformation programs that incorporate mindset, creativity, and the ability to embody change.