So there I am, 3.5km into my 5km walk on this chilly autumn Sunday morning. I love being outside and having this time.
I’m coming up to the local oval where it looks like an over 45 men’s soccer game is going to start soon. There is a group of about 8 people, the soccer players and their partners, having a chat near their parked cars.
As I approach they go completely silent and watch me walk past. I can hear them whispering.
Just as I’ve walked by one of the women says in a loud voice ‘and I bet she thinks she looks good too’.
Really… mean girls are everywhere.
As I walked away I wondered to myself if she realised how this behaviour reflected on her. How happy she would be with the perception it created. And how it helped her.
As leaders, you are role modelling … always. You are leadership in action. What you say and do is how others learn about what leadership looks like, and how leaders show up. People learn leadership from observing you.
My dad used to say to me that, “What you think and what you feel shows up in what you say and what you do.” So you want to make sure that you are thinking and feeling things that support you and your leadership. If not…you’re sending messages you may not be entirely comfortable with.
‘Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating.’
I talk about the importance of first leading yourself. That this is the ticket to the game of leading others. And this is one of the reasons why.
People are watching you.
If you’re not first leading yourself, it will show up in your role modelling of leadership. And whether they choose to follow.
1. Firstly, think about how you want to be as a leader. About who you want to be as a leader.
It’s important to reflect on how you’re showing up so that you can identify the opportunities for you to be a better you. If there’s something that you’re thinking and feeling that doesn’t support your leadership, then you need to address it.
This is a regular opportunity to hold the mirror up, get feedback, and understand where your opportunities are, so that you can show up thinking and feeling the things that mean what you say and do leadership in a way that you’re happy with. That supports what you and your team and your organisation are focused on.
It’s important to reflect on how you’re showing up so that you can identify the opportunities for you to be a better you. If there’s something that you’re thinking and feeling that doesn’t support your leadership, then you need to address it.
2. Secondly, consider what you need to make that happen.
- How you look after yourself
- Having a growth mindset
- Developing an optimistic outlook
- Playing to your strengths
- Ensuring you develop yourself
- Actively seeking feedback
- And many more
The idea is to proactively reflect on your leadership of self…what you think and feel…and offer yourself the tools, the resources, and the support to be the best version of you each day.
Remember you are a leader…in every space you operate.
Make the right choices for yourself.
First Lead Yourself.
I’d love to know your thoughts.
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