Skip to Content

BACK TO SCHOOL ADVICE FOR LEADERS

 September 2, 2021   By Living As A Leader

Resources

Main Content

How Leaders Can Foster Independence

The best leaders realize that learning never ends. There are always opportunities to grow your skills like listening to your team, providing valuable feedback and balancing accountability with inspiration.

As we enter the back to school season, it’s an opportunity to check in with yourself and where you can educate yourself as a leader. Whether you’re just getting started as a leader or feel like you’re up for a graduate-level course, here are ways leaders can school themselves.

Cultivate patience

As we adjust to changing work routines in a reopening world, we all need a master course in patience. A recent episode of LinkedIn’s Hello Monday podcast advises leaders not to “pretend nothing happened” when everyone returns to an office setting. Instead, they should first learn to connect with each other again –– which takes patience and understanding. When we work with leaders, we help them see if their words and non-verbal actions match up. Are they saying they have an open door policy, but their closed-off demeanor and harried actions communicate the opposite message? That’s why leaders need to model their intentions.

Build trust

In his business book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni paints a portrait of a fictional company that should be high-performing on paper–– but is losing to its competition. The problem is the team has no trust. If we don’t trust people, how can we expect anyone else to place their trust in us? Think of two or three people that you trust. They could be a parent, a close friend and confidant, a sibling or a historical figure like Mother Theresa. What makes these people trustworthy? What words do they say and actions do they take? How long did it take for you to trust these people? Write these qualities down, so that you can incorporate them into your leadership.   

Plan your next step

Research shows that one of the most enjoyable parts of travel is simply planning your trip. Yes, the process of booking flights, making hotel reservations and creating itineraries can actually be one of the best parts of the journey. Why? Because it creates anticipation, a powerful emotion that signals that the experience is just beginning. Think of your leadership –– and the learning that goes along with it –– as that journey. What most fulfills you? Think of how you can best carry out your calling. Then, take steps toward learning your next chapter.

 

 

Related Blogs

Please wait while we gather your results.
Conquering the Fear of Speaking: How Managers Can Stop Holding Themselves Back

Conquering the Fear of Speaking: How Managers Can Stop Holding Themselves Back

“I’m holding myself back because I can’t speak in front of groups.” I hear this, or some version of it, from 7 out of 10 managers I coach. And if that number sounds high, you’re not alone—public speaking consistently ranks as one of the most common fears, even among leaders. In fact, studies show more people fear public speaking than death. So, yes, some people would rather be the one in the coffin than the one delivering the eulogy. Let’s chew on that for a moment.

October 1, 2024 | By Living As A Leader

Read More

Progress Parties: Why Leaders Should Celebrate the Small Wins

Progress Parties: Why Leaders Should Celebrate the Small Wins

In my years of leading people and coaching managers, I’ve noticed a common mistake we’re all guilty of… waiting until the end to celebrate. We hold off on recognizing achievements until a project is complete, a goal is met, or a quarter ends. But why do we save all the celebration for the finish line? Isn’t the journey just as important?

September 4, 2024 | By Living As A Leader

Read More

The Silent Crisis: Stressed-Out Employees and What Leaders Can Do About It

The Silent Crisis: Stressed-Out Employees and What Leaders Can Do About It

In the whirlwind of board meetings, strategy sessions, and quarterly reports, there's a quiet crisis simmering just beneath the surface of our organizations. According to Gallup's State of the Global Workplace: 2024 Report, a staggering 49% of employees in the U.S. and Canada are stressed out. Almost half of your workforce is potentially one email away from a stress-induced breakdown. This is a pressing issue that demands our immediate attention.

August 6, 2024 | By Living As A Leader

Read More