INSIGHTS (on leadership/self-leadership)
I’ve interviewed thousands of leaders and have spotted an interesting pattern; three things the best leaders consistently do. Think of them as the three “Ups” of leadership:
Show up.
The best leaders bring their best, every day. They exude professionalism, presence, and play to win. They come prepared (always), bring the energy and a positive attitude, and are available for and fully present with their people. They don’t back down from tensions and debate but are drawn towards shepherding the best possible outcome for all involved. They can be counted on and leaned upon. They’re willing and able listeners who can be trusted and place trust freely in others.
Step up.
The best, most savvy leaders role-model the right behaviors in times of adversity. They drive through complexity with decisiveness and focus. They bring hope, and reality, when each is needed most. They hold themselves, and their organization, unswervingly accountable. They set inspiring visions and strategies while rolling up their sleeves to solve problems “in the trenches.” They look in the mirror with failure and point at others to assign credit.
Shake it up.
Role-model leaders have a healthy discomfort with the status quo. They crave uncertainty to help spur innovation and disruption. They lead change, helping all involved to thrive, not just survive, through it all. They have one eye on delivering today, the other on shaping tomorrow. They don’t allow their people to get stuck in tired, unhelpful narratives, but instead encourage them to rewrite the script.
Show up, step up, and shake it up, and you’ll be on your way up.
IMPERFECTIONS (a mistake many make)
It’s all too easy to make the mistake of losing your cool in an emotional situation – it almost never helps. When you find yourself in such a circumstance (with your temper or anxiety quickly rising), remember:
Ctrl Alt Del
Yup, just like the commands you use to reboot your computer, you can reboot your state of mind.
It stands for, Control yourself. Alter your thoughts. Delete negativity.
It really works. Bad situations get worse when emotions escalate and you say things you didn’t mean or act in ways you didn’t intend. In such moments, self-control is vital, as is being aware of unhelpful thoughts you’re having, and then altering those thoughts towards something more helpful, or at least neutral. Which, of course, includes getting rid of the negativity you might be spewing at the time. It can be hard to change what you’re feeling and thinking in heated, anxious moments, which is why the simple Ctrl Alt Del structure is so helpful.
IMPLEMENTATION (one research-backed strategy, tip, or tool)
Here’s a simple, but powerful visual I’ve shared before. So many people said it helped them that I’m sharing it again. I use it for staying focused on opportunities versus setbacks. It’s this detached cabinet door I keep near my desk in my office.
It’s a constant reminder for me that when a door closes, a window opens. From experience, I can tell you it’s profoundly true – I’ve experienced it over and over again. Believing that a window of opportunity will eventually open after a pursuit fizzles out helps you keep perspective and focus on what it takes to be ready when the next opportunity presents itself. What might you place at your desk to symbolize this?
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