As a seasoned leader, I have learned that I have to invest in my own leadership growth with the goal of becoming better every day. Investing in our own leadership growth allows us to break through our leadership lid to become the leaders we want to be in the future.

Investing in leadership growth requires knowing what habits hold us back and how to combat these to lead ourselves and our teams to achieve success. Most of us started out as scrappy leaders, breaking rules, stepping on toes, breaking the rules, and much more. We all know there was no instruction manual!

Taking a step back and looking at ourselves as human beings, we realize we are on this earth to make a positive difference not to be right. It is hard for leaders who know the business well to let go of being in control or having all the answers. Leaders can become stuck in the mindset of having all the ideas, making all the decisions, and often taking all the credit to feel like they matter and added value.

We are trained from an early age over and over that we have to prove that we are smart. We take tests throughout our educational life and are conditioned to pass or get straight “A’s”. It’s hard to stop as it becomes ingrained in us as a habit. The reality is that if leaders want to scale a business, they must make it about the people/team, not about them.

Think about this, for a great individual achiever it is all about them. For a great leader, it is all their team. The people you work with are all great individual achievers and they’re committed to achieving goals. Isn’t it better to let them do something they believe in and do it 100% versus doing something you believe in and only getting 50%?

However, there are common challenges that affect a leader's ability to move forward, including pride (not being open to others’ ideas - or having all the answers), self-sabotage (I behave this way and I am successful, therefore I am successful because I behave this way), and stereotyping themselves (That’s just the way I am).

Leaders who are willing to take feedback can discover how they can become better. Deep down inside we are all afraid of the answers we will get when asking for feedback. However, there are ways to get honest feedback beyond a 360 survey. Instead of asking for feedback, the leader can Feed Forward, asking curious questions that provide them with valuable insights such as:

How can I be a better listener in the future?
Give me some of your ideas. Listen and say thank you. Do not offer judgment or critique.
How I can communicate better with you in the future?
What can I do more of / less of?

Smart leaders know what to do, but they need to know what NOT to do. This is a big part of growth for leaders and teams. Leaders often base their value on what they achieve. It is important not to base your value as a person on the results you achieve. What happens after you achieve those results? Achievement is important for achievement. While happiness is important for happiness. These are two individual variables - not the same thing.

As leaders, we should prioritize work-life balance to find greater fulfillment both personally and professionally. Be happy now, treasure your family and friends who love and support you, have fun - life is short, and if you have a dream, go for it!

Lastly, nurture self-awareness as it all starts with you. Our subconscious is programmed by others starting at a young age. Our subconscious disempowers and sabotages us as we respond to our triggers without thinking. The conscious empowers us to choose how we want to respond, behave, and be perceived by others.

In conclusion, investing in your own leadership growth while making space for happiness is the key. Recognize the value you bring to any situation outside of results and goals. Break through your leadership lid and become the leader you want to be in the future.

Workshop: Join the waitlist for our upcoming Mastery Class: Mastering Self where we will focus on the building blocks to setting ambitious goals grounded in your values, and how creativity and powerful routines can help you achieve success. 💻
Book: Win at Work, Succeed at Life by Michael Hyatt and Megan Miller
Book: What got you here, won’t get you there by author Dr. Marshall Goldsmith

Are you burned out, frustrated, working twice as hard, and struggling to get team support? Be the Leader Employees are Seeking provides a comprehensive roadmap to manage the people side of the business. It uses the H.U.M.A.N.S 1st Technique principles that are curated by decades of real-life experiences and proven success.
Whether a NEW, SEASONED or CURIOUS leader, implementing the H.U.M.A.N.S. 1st Technique offers insight that will begin to repair the workplace, spark positive relationships and initiate great success.
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This week’s feature is from Michael Pedersen:

Leadership Habits to Find Happiness and Fulfillment

In the ditch

Comfortable in the Discomfort