Leading in a Vacuum
By Angel Santiago
Great leadership is self-leadership. You cannot give anything to others that you don’t give to yourself first.
In my previous article, I discussed the impact self-awareness and presence of mind have on a leader. Because when the mind is aware and prepared, you are able to put aside all distractions and pay careful attention to whatever you are doing in the present moment. For you to be successful at it and see results, you must make time for it – you must practice. If you don’t, you may find yourself exhibiting some of the following behaviors:
Poor Communication
Lack of Strategic Thinking
Poor Time Management and Delegation
Poor Conflict Resolution Skills
Lack of Leadership Development
Who’s going to show up for that leader? A leader that isn’t showing up for themselves can’t really show up for others.
Elizabeth Chambers, Founder & CEO of Bird Bakery, knows all about the importance of what it takes to show up for your team. She understands that you can’t ask people to do something that you are not willing to do.
“My team is my most valuable asset. Of course, we have our recipes, we have our brand, and we have over a decade of success, but at the end of the day, without our customers and our team, we have nothing. So really, to me, when you fail to recognize the value in your team and fail to make them feel valued, you fail at leading. Five years ago, generally speaking, the majority of restaurant staff came to work for the paycheck, but now, more than ever, they’re showing up for the company culture and because they care. They’re showing up for camaraderie. They’re showing up because it might be the only thing that gives them a sense of connection. I think that self-leadership is more imperative than ever and I truly believe that no one’s going to commit to a company or a leader who doesn’t care or doesn’t listen.”
Is your leadership building up others or tearing them down? You’ve stepped into a leadership role, as such, it is important to recognize your own actions first. Being a good leader requires a certain type of mindset, it requires you to value yourself. When you truly value yourself, you can then truly value others because now you can translate that type of value and worth to every person and every team member as you work together towards a common goal.
Leadership is a choice, not a title or a position. Leadership is not to be confused with authority. According to Simon Sinek, “there are individuals that have no authority but are great leaders because they have chosen to look after the person to the left and the right of them.” Good leadership requires the respect of those you serve. Your business and your team are counting on you.
I invite you to take this 5-minute leadership quiz to understand your personal leadership style. Scan the QR code to take your next step in developing your leadership skills and becoming a more effective leader.
Blessings,
LifeCoachAngel
