Leadership Rituals for 2021, and a New Year’s Theme: Revelation
As 2020 has come to a close, what stands out most is that the past year has presented unprecedented levels of challenges, hardships, and disruption. That’s why this New Year in particular is not the time to look solely at the rear-view mirror and operate as we did in the past. In countless ways, we won’t be returning to the old normal, and our success at navigating what the future may hold lies partly in the hands of each of us.
I personally believe that 2021 will be a time for revelation: for renewal, expanded ways of connection with self and others, and opportunities to recreate a brighter future. I invite all of you to start imagining what your future looks like versus waiting for the return of an outdated yesterday!
As we meet the new year, while it has become abundantly clear that some things are simply not under our control, know that you do have some power to influence and be the creator of your personal and professional path. You also have the ability to make this a better place for those around you. My next two posts will offer six leadership rituals for you to consider in 2021 as you embrace the future. Here are the first three of them:
- Increase Your Focus on Empathy
This past year has called out how essential it is to have empathy for what others are experiencing. Many leaders have had to push beyond their comfort zone or normal routines engaging with their teams—for example, by expanding their communications beyond simply giving updates and sending direction, to instead focus more on actively listening and connecting at a deeper level.
This means asking how the individuals on your teams really are, and then giving people the space and safe environment to authentically answer. Truly listening is not always easy, but when you let go of your own opinions and focus on other person’s perspective—even if you don’t agree with everything the person says—it lets them know that they matter to you which not only speaks volumes to your leadership but can be a stabilizer during times of change while engaging others around you.
- Cultivate Optimism Against the Odds
Helen Keller’s view on optimism is so true: “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.” Faith and optimism are the precursors to accomplishment. Staying positive was a key strategy for me when I was growing up; during my childhood, I could find the silver lining in almost every situation. Optimism continues to be an important tool that helps keep me centered and grounded when dealing with today’s challenges. My belief has always been that there are no accidents in life, and that whatever occurs—as difficult or challenging it may be—is for my highest good and learning.
At a fundamental level, our thinking makes it so. Our thoughts create a significant part of our reality, whether you are a pessimist or an optimist. Sometimes optimism is associated with being unrealistic, but I don’t see it this way. I see optimism as a vehicle that can serve as a healthy ritual in understanding how the environment around us is always evolving.
- Practice Moments of Stillness
If you haven’t discovered the power of mindfulness yet, there’s no better year to get acquainted with this powerful ancient practice. Mindfulness is an essential component of knowing yourself, discovering areas where you can grow, and understanding how you can live a more purposeful life. Practicing mindfulness is about overcoming self-limiting beliefs, which often create reluctance to meeting your true values and aspirations. This is particularly important for leaders. But what makes this difficult is that we are usually filling our day with something—lots of something! Too often we think that stillness is a waste of time. We equate it with laziness or lack of ambition, so we keep on moving.
The problem with this mindset is that our mind gets cluttered, as it’s always processing bits and bites of information, thoughts, and feelings. The second problem is that we miss so many of the gifts that mindfulness has to offer. When we take time to be present, press the pause button, and allow ourselves to put attention and intention on things that really matter, then we make ourselves available to draw upon new opportunities and inner wisdom. Mindfulness also helps us purge thoughts that no longer serve our purpose as a person and leader.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to explore additional growth in this area:
- How can I give myself the space to reflect and learn from my past experiences?
- What are my emotional triggers? How do they affect me and those around me? What are the best ways to overcome these triggers so that they don’t derail me?
- Based on what my ideal environment is to be happy and thrive, what in my life needs to change or stay the same?
- How can I be more aware of my self-limiting beliefs and unconscious bias?
Every new year invites us to bring our best self and push our comfort zone to do what we are not sure we can do. While we don’t yet know what this new year will bring, we do know what we can bring to it. May you meet this coming year with a positive, hopeful attitude and openness to new ways of thinking and leading that will ignite a fresh start and a new beginning. In my next post, I’ll share thoughts on three additional leadership rituals for 2021: courage, curiosity, and resilience.
Contact me at info@shambaughleadership.com or link to Learn More About SHAMBAUGH’s offerings on Supporting Leadership Development Needs as well as Program Solutions for Accelerating the Development and Advancement of Women Leaders and Executive Coaching.
Rebecca Shambaugh is President of SHAMBAUGH Leadership, and Founder of Women in Leadership and Learning. Rebecca is a contributing writer to Harvard Business Review, the HuffPost, and a TEDx speaker. Rebecca has been featured on CNBC, Forbes, Training Magazine, and US News and World Report. She is author of the best-selling books It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor and Make Room for Her: Why Companies Need an Integrated Leadership Model to Achieve Extraordinary Results.
Find out more about us at: www.shambaughleadership.com
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