Remembering Your Why to Action Success
Overwhelm is the feeling I’ve heard described by so many leaders this week, especially those with children. With summer behind us and so many people balancing family and work responsibilities, there’s a desire for many to embrace this time as a fresh start. However, the collision of responsibilities, new routines and planning for better outcomes, can arrive with such speed that the whiplash has left many leaders trying to keep their heads above water, rather than setting the course for success. No one wants to remain stagnant in this place, yet it’s easy to get pulled back into the daily tasks and obligations that take much of our time, and are required for our industries to function.
This time of transition is a good opportunity to take a step back and assess how the current structures, plans and goals are aligned with your ultimate priorities. If you don’t have a process for these types of temperature checks, I would encourage you to build space within your calendars to take stock and determine how to course correct; the latter will prevent veering off in more detrimental ways. Ideally, incorporating this approach individually as well as with your leadership team works best, at least three to four times a year. The dialogue is helpful in identifying patterns, as well as creating shared agreement on the pivots required.
For you as an individual, I’m including three questions to reflect on during lulls in your day, perhaps on a commute, waiting in line for coffee or sitting at your child’s volleyball practices.
What drew you to leadership and the impacts you desire to make?
What is the primary roadblock you’re facing in optimizing your leadership desires?
Identify one change you can control to advance those desires to reality. And then, apply these to practice.
In Canada we have five weeks until our next long weekend. Take this time to turn your desires into the action you identified, and you will have something to be very grateful for! Your goals will not happen overnight but they are important to continually work towards.