My Values: Leadership Begins With You

Look at any trend right now, behind the sleekly designed product (that you carry around with you like an extra limb) lies a smart, quirky and driven leader.  Shabby chic or hipster, wrapped in eco-clothing, contributing the word 'influencers' to the post-modern dictionary, these trend-setting leaders are our latest rock stars.  After all the 'hip' and 'cool' have left the building I am still left wondering what makes a good leader.

The Art of Leadership:  Transformational leadership is a leadership style that specifically looks at how teams can create change in an organisation.  A unique aspect of transformational leadership is the way leaders use inspiration and encouragement to see an organisational vision executed.

Stagnating in a daily to-do-list is easily transformed when we develop an overall story or project vision.  Likewise, to move forward in our personal lives we need to be energised by the big picture and learn how to frame our everyday tasks in a creative way.  Lifting our mindset to an 'aspirational framework' means that we will engage in our work and life with meaning, enthusiasm and  creativity.

You either walk inside your story and own it or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness - Brene Brown

Leading Your Own Life:  To become an inspirational leader you first need to know how to lead your own life.   Over the span of your lifetime you have the opportunity to understand more about your gifts, strengths and talents and how you want to serve those around you. 

Setting a Vision:  Being able to create the 'big picture' for your life starts with understanding more about who you are and what you love to do.  The big picture requires you to define your strengths and how you want to contribute in the world.  A personal Contribution Statement helps to set a vision for your life.

CONTRIBUTION = WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IN THE WORLD?

VEHICLE = HOW YOU ARE GOING TO DO IT?

Creating balance in your life:  Planning your life with work-life balance is difficult in the complex and fast paced world.  Research shows that people who can balance work stress with leisure activities and social connection will generate greater productivity and career longevity.

Understanding how to Strategise and Execute Tasks:   Knowing what you want, and creating steps to fulfilling your desires is central to your life strategy.  Breaking your steps into defined tasks helps to create an action plan you can complete daily, weekly and yearly.  Generating ideas to overcome challenges, and learning how to execute a task until completion, will mean that you will continue to move forward.

Being Self-Aware and Communicate well:  Good leaders are clear communicators.  Leading your life begins with knowing what you want and how to say 'YES' and 'NO' to opportunities.  Using assertive language, rather than bullying or being demanding, begins with understanding how to frame a question and communicate a simple statement.   Changing a 'what' statement to a 'why' or 'how'  increases creativity and inspiration.

Creating Mentors and Community:   Finding a community of like-minded people will help to sustain you through your leadership journey.  Eventually you will be leading others, and therefore, it's important to experience how a community can fuel your own development.  To become who you want to be, you need to have mentors in your life.  Finding books or audio information is a quick way to gain encouragement.  Finding people in your area that are doing your 'dream' job, or can coach you to overcome your challenges and energise your creativity, will in turn help you to serve others with meaning and satisfaction.

#Leadership #SpokeInsight