Possibilities are endless if we are willing to accept who we are, embrace change, nurture our plural identities to face our truth, and build a growth mindset.
Leadership is a skill available to everyone in all walks of life. It is a life skill as we are all leaders of our own life whether we like it or not! Our decisions define us. Irrespective of our upbringing, training, role or title, we are faced with making decisions that affect us, our immediate family, our community, our organization and our world every day. The goal is to answer this fundamental question – How do I raise my potential to thrive in all domains of my life and lead others along the way?
For many of us, it is overwhelming to be a parent and professional at the same time. And even harder to embrace all that we can be. It seems unimaginable to be a poet in the workplace, a musician mathematician, a philosopher entrepreneur and many such combinations that make us our unique selves. We instead compartmentalize our roles, our interests and ourselves to the extent that we lose the plot towards our potential. We have to learn to thrive in our plural identities as parents, professionals, leaders, hobbyists and many other roles we aspire for. Only then, will we unlock endless possibilities to bring meaning, satisfaction, consequential existence and success as a leader.
It is not easy and yet, I know it can be done. You can be a poet in the workplace without writing poetry…if you can see the foreground and the background, and couple subjective intuition and creativity, with objective logic and analysis. You can be a parent with a full day of workload, and yet be mindfully present for yourself, your family, and your team as long as you can create, adapt, and strictly enforce boundaries. You can be your authentic self and choose to be a blend of leadership styles – coach, pacesetter, affiliate, and even coercive or authoritarian if you are clear on the implications of each. Name one parent who isn’t coercive with their child or one leader who isn’t authoritative with their subordinate. What sets you up for success is awareness, reflection, and presence to be able to influence in the right way. You need a tribe to support you on this path. A coach as a sounding board and an accountability partner, can be one of them.
No two people are alike in this world. We are distinct by our DNA, even identical twins! If that is the case, our leadership DNA (Development, Networking and Action Plan) to navigate life and career transitions has to be unique to us. In building this structure, I know it can be customized to unlock your endless possibilities. I believe leading with Why questions is necessary. Why should I take this path? Why now? Why me? Why not me? The deeper the inquiry, better the chance of finding your true north, raising your potential and leading with purpose.
Possibilities are endless and many diverging paths to get there…..Step inWhyZone.
The best is yet to come!