In the dynamic world of leadership, it's not merely about what you can do; it's about who you become in the process. Your thoughts, beliefs, and habits deeply influence your actions, results, and, ultimately, your career trajectory.
As a manager or leader, harnessing the power of mindset, skillsets, and renewal is paramount. Below, we dive into the intricate dance of these three dimensions to get you leading with unparalleled distinction.
Embrace a growth mindset
Our mindset shapes our perceptions, colours our reactions, and sets the tone for our leadership narrative. Like the invisible roots of a tree that determine its health and vigour, our mindset lays the foundation for our visible actions and decisions. Embracing the right attitude is akin to nourishing these roots, ensuring growth and flourishing in leadership roles.
Why have this intention?
As proposed by psychologist Carol Dweck, a growth mindset is where you believe in developing your abilities and intelligence through hard work, dedication, and the right strategies. It's a way of thinking that encourages continuous learning and resilience.
Cultivating a growth mindset means you persist in the face of setbacks, embrace challenges, learn from criticism, and see effort as the path to mastery.
In the leadership arena, it translates to fostering innovation, encouraging risk-taking, and promoting a culture of constant improvement.
Micro-action: Develop the habit of self-awareness
When faced with challenges or criticism, pause and reflect. Are you drifting towards a fixed mindset, seeing these obstacles as affirmations of inherent incapabilities?
Or do you view them as opportunities for growth? Language is a powerful tool to facilitate this shift.
Instead of saying, "I can't do this," say, "I can't do this yet."
Such a slight change in phrasing reinforces the idea that with time and effort, improvement is possible.
Embed this habit into your experience
Create a language guide you can share with your team. Include phrases that promote a growth mindset and those that indicate a fixed mindset to avoid.
Regularly review this guide in team meetings and encourage its active usage. It will not only align your team linguistically but mentally as well.
Skillset: Master the RISE principle
While having a vision and cultivating a growth mindset might set the direction, mastery of essential skills translates that vision into reality. Like an artisan continually refining their craft, honing your skills ensures your leadership remains relevant, effective, and impactful.
Why have this intention?
Leadership is not merely about driving results but how you achieve them. The RISE principle—Respect, Inclusion, Support, and Ethics—lays down the pillars for a conducive work environment.
- Respect ensures every individual feels valued, reducing turnover and enhancing job satisfaction.
- Inclusion promotes a diversity of thoughts, leading to better problem-solving and innovation.
- Support ensures team members have the necessary resources and encouragement, boosting productivity and morale.
- Ethics holds the team to high standards, ensuring long-term success and building stakeholder trust.
Micro-action: Commit to practising one RISE principle each week
Start by spending a week focusing on promoting inclusion. For example, invite quieter team members to share their opinions or introduce a new platform for anonymous feedback. Then, the next week, shift your focus to ethics—maybe by revisiting company values and ensuring your decisions align.
Embed this habit into your experience
Set up an environment that reminds you of the RISE principle. Designate a section of your workspace to display posters, quotes, or reminders about Respect, Inclusion, Support, and Ethics.
Make it a practice to reflect on these principles daily, embedding their essence into your leadership style.
Renewal: The essence of slowing down
Amidst the relentless pace of decision-making and management, renewal is the quiet sanctuary of reflection and rejuvenation.
Like the silent pause between musical notes that gives a composition its rhythm, moments of renewal provide balance, clarity, and direction in our leadership journey. Embracing renewal ensures we lead with vigour, insight, and wisdom.
Why have this intention?
In the rapid-paced working world, it's easy to equate busyness with productivity. However, non-stop action without reflection can lead to burnout, mistakes, and decreased efficiency.
Renewal and reset are about slowing down, practising self-awareness, and being mindful. It ensures that you're not just working hard but working smart, with clarity and purpose.
Micro-action: Dedicate a set time each day to reset
Each day, allocate the last 20 minutes—to unwind, reflect on the day, and plan for the next. It could be through meditation, journaling, or merely sitting in silence. Make it a habit to disconnect from all digital devices during this period. It's not about inactivity but about recharging for better activity.
Embed this habit into your experience
Design your workspace to promote renewal. For example, have a comfortable chair, some calming artwork, and a journal in one corner. Make it a sacred space where you transition from the relentless hustle to a reflection zone.
Over time, you'll find this practice rejuvenating and immensely insightful as patterns emerge, guiding your decisions and actions.
To lead with distinction is to master the symphony of mindset, skill, and renewal. It's about understanding why certain principles matter, embedding them into daily habits, and crafting an environment conducive to their practice. If you'd like more direction in your journey to leading WELL, contact us here at Balance2Life to learn how we can positively affect your organisation, teams, and bottom line.