How to become a better leader before the holidays
Leadership insight from a philosopher, lessons from F1 & self coaching
Leadership through the pandemic has not been for the fainthearted. Over the last two years I’ve had the privilege to witness and support a number of great leaders as they have stepped up to the challenges thrown at them.
At times they have felt powerful. At others, vulnerable and exposed amidst the chaos. Their leadership skills have been tested to the limit.
So how can you capitalise on what you’ve experienced to date and use it to become an even better leader in future?
Here are five thought provokers to help you reflect on how far you have come and help you increase your impact in 2022.
Wise words: This quote is an old one, yet it’s helped me reflect on how I’ve led when times have been calmer and how I have adapted & responded during times of crisis - as well as the impact that has had on those around me.
What insight can you draw from it?
Concept: I’ve been using the action > learning < reflection model even more at this time of year with clients to identify whether they’ve been fully capitalising on their experiences. For me personally, there’s no surprise that for someone who’s results driven (a full D on the DiSC® scale) and my reflection time needs more investment. What about you?
Insight: The natural pause that the end of the year offers is the perfect time to reflect on just how far you have come. It’s tempting to rush and cross the finish line into the holidays, yet after two years of pandemic, you’ll be amazed when you step back and see how much you’ve learned, which will in turn translate into how confident you feel to embrace the year ahead.
If it’s worth an hour of your time to focus on own development, you can read more about how to make learning your leadership superpower and get a short set of free guided coaching questions to help you here:
Finish strong: It’s always great to finish on a high. As a life long lover of motor racing, last weekends final race of the season, final lap clinching of the world Formula One title by Max Verstappen, shows us exactly why it’s critical not to take our foot off the pedal as we see the finish line approaching. Whilst many around us are winding down, how will you seize the advantage and make the most of these final few days?
Ear candy: I love listening to neuroscientist Dr Andrew Huberman talk in his Huberman Lab podcast in particular about how to be more alert during the day and wake up quicker. Perhaps the best thing I’ve picked up is the value of getting outside as early as I can once the sun comes up. The quality of light is at its best, and experienced outside is 50 times more effective than through a window at activating the brains neurons and clicking the circadian clock into drive. As your body starts to tire and tells you it’s time to wind down, there’s nothing like a quick intake of fresh air - and light it seems - to revive you.
If need help getting perspective and identifying what you have learned this year, send a quick note to me at rebecca@rebeccajjackson.com and I’ll help you figure it out.
Meantime, thanks for reading this. If you found it thought provoking, please share it with someone you know.
With thanks,
Rebecca