Engaged leadership requires a high degree of self-awareness. Leaders who learn that the way they are being impacts every single interaction, conversation and relationship are ahead of the game. It may sound obvious, but it is the first step towards truly engaged leadership.
Being
The first principle of “Step Up Now: 21 Powerful Principles for People Who Influence Others” outlines the importance of Be. Know. Do. Being precedes knowing or doing. Leaders often act as if the opposite is true; knowing or doing is what we have been taught to value, and how we are rewarded. We may or may not ever get around to “being.” Being needs to be more than an afterthought; it should be the foundation of your approach to leadership.
Stopping
The next principle is The Power of Stopping. Stopping allows for creation of a state of deep relaxation . Mind chatter halts; the silence within can be accessed. This is accomplished through breathing practice. Your state of mind is a direct reflection of the state of your breath. When we change our breathing patterns, our state of mind changes as well! Clients discover through training conscious breath and mindfulness practice they enjoy benefits beyond relaxation . The ability to access intuition , creative flow, and higher intelligences is possible in a deeply relaxed brainwave. It is not present in the active, high alert beta brain wave, the level at which most day-to day- activity occurs.
Mindset
Once this distinction is understood and experienced, you can begin to examine your mindsets. Your results in the external world mirror what you are thinking internally. When you change the way you see-your “mindset”, it will be reflected in new opportunities and choices. The change in your reality-and the results that follow-must first happen within your own mind.
As you become present and engaged in the here and now, with greater levels of awareness of your mindset, your leadership influence can expand. You become more aware and confident in your own leadership style. Heightened awareness and practice open up the possibility for collaboration and trust with others. Your way of communication will reflect more listening and curiosity with less talking and providing answers.
Your own leadership unfolds in an integrative, balanced and whole manner. As you evolve, you will develop a co-creative approach to bringing out the best in others. This is possible because you are now bringing your own best self to each and every encounter.Goals
What about goals, the mainstay of accomplishment? I have found that goal setting is an often misunderstood area. Goals when reached are a cause for celebration and reward. When missed, they are often a downward spiral into frustration, shame and blame, of self and others. My perspective on goals is that they need to be in alignment with what we truly care about. Napoleon Hill said, “A goal is a dream with a deadline.” Goals should be set at a time when you can consciously do so; the biggest impediment to not achieving goals is conflict between subconscious thinking patterns and conscious ones. Setting goals that conflict with subconscious patterns or setting unreasonable goals sets us up for failure; setting “stretch” goals keeps us on our toes. Goals should be set consciously, aligned with your cares, and enough of a stretch to pull you forward.
This may sound daunting at first, but it doesn’t have to be so. Implementing growth of this sort requires a degree of self-awareness that may be difficult to achieve alone. To make things easier, it helps to have a trusted colleague, mentor, friend or advisor.
Engagement at this level can be thrilling. Once you have made a decision to get on the path, be sure to take small, consistent action. Record and reflect.
Conscious Shifts in your leadership are underway!
Susan Freeman is an executive coach who is best known for her unique approach to leadership transformation–combining Western strategic discipline with Eastern integrative wisdom techniques. Her clients get to the root of what is holding them back, allowing access to their Natural Leader. They evolve their leadership in an integrated, balanced and sustainable way. When they do, they experience passion, clarity and exceptional results.
She is the author of, “Step Up Now: 21 Powerful Principles for People Who Influence Others,” as well as a public speaker on the inner dimensions of leadership. Her passion is working with motivated, high-achieving leaders and influencers.
Susan received her M.B.A. in Marketing from Columbia University and her B.A. in Psychology from Wellesley College. Susan is an accredited coach with the International Coach Federation, as well as with Newfield Network where she received her coaching training. She is also a certified business facilitator from the MSP Institute. Susan brings to her coaching more than 25 years of corporate, entrepreneurial and non-profit business management and leadership experience.
She volunteers to mentor young women leaders locally and globally. In Africa, she works closely with The Akilah Institute to help empower young women with the skills, knowledge and confidence to become leaders. Her book connects her to the school, where it is used in curriculum and where she donates all profits from its sales. In Tampa she has mentored young women through the Emerge Tampa program of the Greater Tampa Chamber and Frameworks Tampa Bay.
Susan is a native of Kansas City and resides in Tampa, FL. In Tampa she is an active member of The Athena Society and a Leadership Tampa Alumna. She has founded or served on several educational boards at the secondary and university levels.
Susan is happily married and has three grown sons. Her hobbies include ballroom dancing, travel and yoga. Rarely a day goes by when she doesn’t eat a piece of dark chocolate.