05 Jun FIRST LEAD YOURSELF. FIND YOUR ENERGY TO LEAD.
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Recently, I noticed that I had become very focused on my work, which I do tend to do. It was time to step back and really have a look at what my priorities should be and what, if any, changes I need to make to bring out the best in myself. To have the right kind of energy and be leading myself.
After all, my first foundation of leadership is self.
I don’t know about you, but I am seeing this pattern in some of the people around me. There is a lot going on in the world and people are trying to do the right thing, and to some degree, are forgetting a little bit about themselves.
So, I just wanted to bring up this reminder to help you to take that step back. To look at your bigger picture and make sure that you’re bringing your best leadership. To ensure you can continue to show up as a leader the way you want to. With the right kind of energy, the right kind of focus, and investing yourself in the things that make the most difference to you and to the people around you.
I am revisiting the energy wheel today. Let me step you through this simple process that I use to facilitate the self-reflection that enables me to choose to show up at my best.
You might be familiar with the wheel’s process. Using a simple wheel of life, or energy wheel, to identify the factors that you know bring you energy. The factors which fill your cup, and that you need to have operating at a reasonable level, not 100%, but at a reasonable level, for you to be able to lead at your best. Which will allow you to show up at your leadership best.
Here is the process.
Firstly, draw a wheel with a few spokes to support your factors. I’ve used eight spokes in my wheel below. You might have 10 or 12 or however many factors there are that really get you into your zone and find you well-supported.
Name your factors. They can be whatever you need to bring you energy as a leader. For me, this includes things like food, sleep and exercise, family time and outside time, learning and reading. So just name your factors on your wheel.
Then, what you do is determine on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, where do I feel I am operating now. So, ask yourself, “Where am I operating?”
Then you mark out the current scale for each factor.
Next, you join it up and you have somewhat of a wonky wheel, like mine.
The next thing to think about is, on your wheel, for you to be operating at your best, where do you really need those factors to be? Again, they don’t have to be at 10, at 100%. It’s just, where do you need them to be, for you to be resourced and to give yourself the opportunity to operate at your best? To really show up.
Again, mark them out. Use a different colour to distinguish from your first wonky wheel. Mark your factors on the scale and then join up those points, and you will have a different version of your wonky wheel.
What you will notice is, that between your two wonky wheels you have some gaps. Some of the gaps are smaller and some of the gaps are larger. Where you have the larger gaps, these are your opportunities to resource yourself, so you can be a more effective leader now.
Now you need to ask yourself, what can I do to close this gap and further resource and energise myself?
For me, my two big opportunity gaps were exercise and outside time.
The changes I have made, even though it is winter here in Sydney, are I am spending more time outside, and increasing my level of exercise. Because that has been a bit random lately.
I am combining a bit more intentional exercise and some outside time because I do my best thinking outside. Outside is where I am most creative. Even while this is a decision to support a more balanced version of me, it also helps my business. This choice for me is sensible on so many levels.
I am also getting back to basics in my diet. Just a little bit of refinement here because I generally eat pretty well.
In the last few weeks, to give you some insight, these changes have lowered my resting heart rate by 10 beats a minute, which is fantastic. I am by no means the fittest I have ever been, but a great improvement. My sleep is better, more restful. And I am feeling much more focused, positive, intentional, energised and balanced.
I have disrupted the workaholic routine. It feels very good to be back in control of me.
I would love for you to work through the energy wheel process for yourself and see what opportunities you have to elevate your leadership energy and how you show up.
I’d love to know your thoughts.
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