Appreciation in leadership ...

What qualities do you appreciate in your boss, peers?  Have you told them?

What feedback do your direct reports give you, what do they appreciate? What could you do more of?

What would you appreciate most right now in the role/position/situation you are in?

What does that tell you? What can you do to get that? 

What can you do today to show appreciation of others?

Be at your best ...... make it happen!

I loved this,  that a client said to me the other week:

"The best thing I can be is me at my best"

 Many years ago a fabulous coach asked me:

"What are the conditions for success"?     

I can still remember the question and what we were discussing. So connecting these two thoughts together.

What are the conditions for success for you to be at your best?

Take just 2 moments now to answer that question for YOU....

Coaching is all about possibilities, opportunities, potential and making it happen - action by action, step by step.  Enjoying the experience along the way, insightfulness  - all moving you towards what you want - whether at work, leading your organisation/department/team, moving to the next phase in your career or business, regaining a balance in your life that you're happy with, improving relationships and situations that are wearing you down....or whatever?

Make reading this count for you!    Be at your best and what do you need to make it happen?  Take a step, just a small step towards it - doing it today is a choice that you have, choose YOU! 

"Be better at being yourself"

So how good are you at this? 

Are you clear on who you are? your strengths? - do you unswervingly "go for it" in your own style and unique way or do you sometimes feel anxious, lack confidence in certain situations, maybe have analysis paralysis?

So what are your intentions, its important - the underpinning

My intention at work is to be?  ........... so is that what you're doing? does that align to you being better at being yourself? 

Yes obstacles get in the way and it's a great feeling of success when we overcome them. However we can question - am I on the right track?   I know sometimes obstacles can make me doubt, sometimes they can also make me persevere!!  Show me my determination.

However in all our dreams, goals, objectives  - surely they must become more true and more achievable - if we are clear that one of our underpinning intentions is to "be better at being myself"  

So questions and thoughts to help?

- when you are good at being better at being yourself" 

-  what 2 steps can you take in the next week to be better at being yourself, when and how will you do it and how will you know you've achieved it?

So much is talked of on Authentic leadership.  I love simplicity, the better we lead ourselves, the better we lead others. 

What do you think about any of this.?.....do let me know, love to hear  from you, email below.

...and if you need a little help knowing what your top 5 strengths are, the book Strengths based Leadership by Tom Rath/Barry Conchie will buy you a code for you to complete an online questionnaire. It may just be the insight, affirmation or push you need.  You may already know of Gallops strengthfinder work.

And finally ...... Wish I could acknowledge where I read or heard the phrase "be better at being yourself! - as I know its not my thought, however isn't it great!

Possibilities and Problems

I know from my experience how busy Chief Executives/ Directors/ Leaders are usually dealing with one of two things, if not both

 - not having enough "head space" to think about possibilities

 - or juggling too many problems to think about creative solutions "spinning too many plates"

I support leaders with that so they can achieve tangible outcomes. 

What will support you, both to dream and get life under control, for you to achieve what really matters to you and your organsiation? What action will you take?

Leadership style - who am I, what's needed now?

So who is your bag? Recently, I've revisited three particular folks writing when considering leadership. (I really enjoy reading and I'm also one of the masses, guilty of collecting interesting books!)

Are you a fan of Daniel Goleman and his leadership styles of Visionary, Coaching, Affiliative, Democratic, Pace setting, Demanding?

For you - Is it all about "Head, Heart and Guts" by Dotlich, Cairo & Rhinesmith - so, are you using all of your intellectual intelligence, emotional intelligence and courage do you believe?

Or what do you think about - what has served you well in the past is perhaps a behaviour that in the context for now, you need to change?  "What got you here, Wont get you there" by Marshall Goldsmith talks of this.

Over time I've also completed many psychometrics/management tools e.g. TMS, Hogan, Strengthfinder, MBTI, OPQ, ILT, VIA,   I don't know about you? I don't like to be boxed however, one of the times I really get some insight from tools like that,  is when I say "yes I am like that" - "oh that's why" Sometimes I even get round to doing something about it! -  changing or more consciously using a skill/behaviour.

Many say that the first port of call for leadership is the "art of leading oneself" - mmh - so is it being who we really are and aware of who we are not?

Which profiles do you have,  maybe filed in personal development (!)  that with a 15 minute read and a bit of reflection, would give you just the insight you need to a tricky situation you are dealing with right now?

A thought?

Is your leadership style what is needed for the role and context you are in right now - and what would you advise your closest colleague to do,  if they were you, with respect and honesty and encouragement.

A question?

What one thing are you really good at and enjoy, that if you did more of, would quickly bring you  impact ? ( and a sense of satisfaction !)

Three words?

Choose three of your own words for what is needed for your situation at work at this very moment.  It could be words like direction, empathy, focus, energy, calm, delivery, perseverance, space, resolute, optimism, confidence, assertiveness, vision, implementation.  That's just to get you started, its your words that are important, what are they?

Action?

So, who/what else do you need to support you?  What action will you take?  Go to it!