A new year provides a great opportunity to think about your aspirations and give some consideration to how you’ve faired in 2013 and what you would like to pay attention to in 2014. Whilst we step back to think about taking our organizations forward each year, rarely do we dream of more of the same, or working more hours, slowing growth, or leaner teams - yet for many this was the reality of 2013. Typically we want growth, stretch and a step closer to our vision. So this blog is about sharing things which could be the catalyst to lift your contribution in 2014. We all need to stop and pay attention to how we’re operating to stay in the place of growth and development; there can be an all too familiar tendency to see the issues ‘out there’ within the organisation. Let’s not forget that the organisation IS people. Let it start with us.
If you’re up for starting with your ‘self’, your leadership and some questions to shift things in 2014 then here we go:
1. Get curious about vision: Where are you headed?
Do more than look for what’s next, creating a longer term vision and sharing it is a pivotal to inspiring others around you.
2. The question of purpose: Why are you going there?
How often do you talk from the place of purposeful leadership, what’s the belief or cause that drives you? Here at Elevate we’re all about growth, we help people grow. Last year whilst in my company, a lady from a healthcare organisation put it beautifully and succinctly when she said “We heal people, that can be healed, that’s what we do… ” It’s a big question, we know this, we also know that extraordinary leaders and extraordinary organisations start with why¹.
3. Give time generously to consider your talent: Who do you need around you?
How can you best shape the relationships around you? Employees, partners, suppliers and clients are starting to really care about high trust relationships and a shift towards a more collaborative space. This is different and richer than ‘teamwork’. Leaders need to be instinctive and flex their approaches this requires them to be increasingly self- aware.
4. Not forgetting our clients: How will you bring your clients closer?
I get frustrated about the over-selling of social media (yep, I know, the irony given I’m blogging). When is the last time you talked to your clients about how you were doing? Do you ask them what matters to them? If you haven’t yet, go on, they’ll tell you and then you’ll know how to do a great job by them.
5. Resilience and personal growth: How will you sustain yourself?
The greater the vision and purpose and the more resources poured into relationships then the bigger the personal growth required. Pause to ensure you’ve got some practices and your own formula for energy renewal.
¹ There just isn’t a better way to say it than that which was made popular by Simon Sinek’s book “Start with Why” – you read it yet?
