New Year, New Chance for Leadership Influence

As we enter a new year, we’ve reached an important inflection point that offers leaders fresh possibilities to meaningfully influence the future. Each January gives leadership the opportunity to harness new momentum that can heal and inspire workplaces, communities, and society.

Current trends I’ve noticed during SHAMBAUGH’s executive coaching, leadership workshops, and leadership development courses and training programs reflect that people at all levels of organizations—particularly women in leadership—are burned out. Many employees and executives alike are searching for a greater sense of purpose.

Personal well-being is a priority for many in the workforce, and leaders must intentionally address this. Today’s successful leaders must believe we’re moving toward a better place, and understand leadership’s critical role to get everyone there. Here are five ways to make it happen:

Boost Your Resiliency 

Many leaders, including women in leadership, believe they’re invincible. But in reality, there will always be periods of disruption, new complexities, and change to manage, which makes building your resiliency muscle a necessity for navigating difficult times while becoming more adaptable. These tips can increase your resilience:

• Stay agile and open to change, willing to adapt and flex to different situations.
• Ensure you have a supportive posse of individuals you can rely on who know you, believe in you, and are truth tellers in tough situations.
• Ask for guidance, sharing your fears and concerns while being receptive to creative problem-solving.
• Avoid a victim mentality. In difficult times, the key is to give yourself time to grieve and express your emotions—but don’t allow yourself to get stuck in the swirl of “why me” thinking. Ask what you learned from the situation and transcend to a new path forward.

Have the Tough Conversations 

I recently interviewed Roz Brewer, CEO of Walgreens, on what’s contributed to her success as a leader. It’s her ability to never turn down a challenging conversation. Great leaders gain the respect and credibility of others by not shying away from these sometimes emotionally charged talks, instead seeing them as a way to resolve or mitigate issues. To do this, don’t assume but assess. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes, then adapt your style and approach to meet them where they are. Be a leader who listens first and then asks questions, while staying open to other people’s viewpoints and experiences. Stay out of the blame game—judge less and focus more on objectively managing a better outcome for the future.

Engage in Critical Thinking

Our workplace and environment are different than they were three years ago and will remain dynamic. Leaders can’t rely only on their own thinking or the same people or patterns they have in the past. Effective decision making and problem solving requires diverse views, constructive debate, and a collaborative approach. When you consult a wide range of thought partners with differing experiences and views, then you can get to the root of problems with collective solutions.

Be a Unifier and Healer

The last couple of years have caused fatigue, isolation, and stress. Many people don’t feel safe enough to talk about their worries and problems on their teams, which can lead to employees leaving their organization. Be an inclusive leader, and unify your teams both virtually and in person. Build a cross-networking learning culture that sparks a sense of connection and community at work. I’ve learned that leaders are more effective when they ask a thoughtful question and listen with empathy.

Know, Be, and Do

One of my dearest friends and mentors Frances Hesselbein recently passed but left such a remarkable and inspiring legacy for leadership. A key principle that she shared with me and so many is to know, be, and do. Knowing and being your true self is the power of your authenticity, and leading from your natural strengths channels purposeful action and outcomes. To do this effectively, ask yourself: What gives you energy? What feedback do you receive from others on where they see you growing into your best self, while creating value where it’s truly needed?

Consider these ideas on leadership as a call to action—not only to energize your own inner strengths and greater purpose, but to help others do so from your leadership capacity. Believe that as we are transcending to a new and better place, you as a leader hold the key to usher in that change.

Contact me at info@shambaughleadership.com to learn about keynotes or speaking to your leadership teams or link to SHAMBAUGH’s offerings to learn more about our Executive Coaching, Women in Leadership and Learning (WILL) Program, and Building Inclusive Cultures.

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.

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