Feeling blah? Do this to Recharge your Leadership
Jackie was burnt out. After a year of pivoting on a regular basis and supporting her team through all of the pandemic related changes, she was having trouble motivating. She was foggy and disconnected - going through the motions.
Jackie is my coaching client, but she could easily be you or me. After a year + of social, emotional, and professional upheaval many of us are feeling a lack of energy or focus. So how do we reset?
The practice of reflecting on purpose - what gives your life and leadership meaning - is a useful tool to regain direction and inspiration. But when you’re caught in the daily grind, particularly in a year like this one - it can be hard to remember your big why. Here are 7 of my favorite steps to recharge.
First, reconnect to your sense of purpose.
1. Spend time with people who remind you of who you are.
Make time for the people who know you well and have witnessed your leadership over the long haul. You’ll feel more fully yourself when surrounded by people who know what you’re passionate about and love your quirks as well as your strengths. Plan a phone call, a zoom date or a meet-up. Having a network of champions will give you the support and motivation you need to thrive.
10 years ago, I took on a new leadership role in an organization where I didn’t know anyone. It took me a little while to realize that the lack of trusted relationships with my new team was causing me to feel a lot of self-doubt about my leadership. I reached out to three trusted colleagues and friends that always made me feel like the best version of myself. Just talking to each of them helped me to remember what I stood for and why I took the role, and I went back to the office with greater focus and confidence. I continue that practice today -- anytime I take on something new or risky, I reach out to my trusted colleagues and friends to get their support and inspiration.
2. Create a morning purpose practice.
Write a few keywords or a phrase that connects you to your purpose on a sticky note and post it in a place where you’ll be sure to see it. Then, every morning for a week, spend five minutes contemplating your purpose before you begin your work. Look back at the words you wrote down and ask yourself, “What is one thing I can do to connect to my purpose throughout the day?” This will help you keep your sense of purpose front and center as you move through your day.
3. Reflect (or journal) on the milestones that connect you to purpose.
Think back on the moments when you felt most connected to a sense of purpose, from the early days of your career until now. These milestones might be big successes or simply meaningful moments when you know that your work touched someone. If you are feeling blah right now, this simple practice can reconnect you to a sense of inspiration.
Next, put your purpose into action.
Once you have spent some time reflecting on your purpose, you can take steps to practice purpose more fully. Here are four things you can do to elevate purpose in your day-to-day leadership.
4. Audit your to-do list to see how much is purpose-driven.
Bringing a purpose-driven lens to how you spend your time will help you focus on what matters most. Ask yourself these questions to determine whether a given action should make the cut:
Is this task on purpose? For me and my leadership? For my team or organization?
Can this only be done by me? If not, who else could do it?
Does this really need to be done? What would happen if no one did it?
Answering these questions will help you decide how essential a particular task might be—and whether you and you alone must carry it out.
5. Do something that brings you pure joy.
Sometimes our work becomes too disconnected from what first ignited our passion for it and we need to remind ourselves of what brings us joy. Do something you used to love but haven't done in a while. Maybe it’s hands-on work like gardening, having a dance party, or building something. Do it because it delights you, not because anyone expects you to do it.
I like to dance it out sometimes. Years ago, I had a job where my team would have a dance break on Friday mornings to celebrate all that we’d done that week. By giving ourselves permission to be playful, we built fabulous camaraderie and allowed ourselves to unwind from the stress of the past week. I still take five-minute dance breaks when I’m working. What can you do that brings you joy?
6. Expand your horizon—then take action.
Learn a new skill that will help you more fully step into your purpose or broaden your knowledge in a specific area. You’ll feel more creative and fulfilled when you’re expanding your horizon, and you’ll engage your curiosity - a big plus!
7. Discuss your goals with a colleague you trust.
You can gain invaluable perspective from other leaders that you trust - like a colleague in a different organization or a friend on another team where you work. Set a coffee or zoom date to check-in with each other about progress toward your goals. Be willing to share your fears and concerns—they will lose their intensity when you hear them reflected by someone else. Meet up once a month to share how it’s going, celebrate your progress and make adjustments.
Repeat, repeat, repeat!
The practice of purpose is a lifelong journey. Purpose is not something that you have or you don’t -- it’s an intentional act of reflecting and cultivating meaning. Tapping into what gives your leadership meaning will help you stay focused on what’s most important, and provide inspiration when you may not be feeling it.
Ready to (re)discover your purpose and how it connects to your leadership? Let’s connect!
Sources
Center for Creative Leadership, “Women Need a Network of Champions”
https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/why-women-need-a-network-of-champions/
Harvard Business Review, “The Surprising Power of Peer Coaching”
https://hbr.org/2021/04/the-surprising-power-of-peer-coaching