Balance the Leader with Leading - A Leadership Skill
Look after yourself, as well as your team (3 Step Exercise).
If you want to lead at your best, then you have to look after your energy, mental capacity, and physical wellbeing alongside your management responsibilities.
If you want to excel as a sports captain, a director, a founder, a leader, then you need to carve out time to look after yourself and replenish your fuel tanks, so that you can serve your team to the best of your ability.
Why is it important to look after yourself?
Siya Kolisi, South Africa Rugby Captain and two-time rugby world champion says it best: 'Being captain often involves looking outside yourself and considering the needs of other people - your teammates, the coaching staff, the fans, the media, sponsors, match officials, even the opposition. But no team can carry a passenger - you need to look after your own performance alongside that of your team.'
The same goes for leadership in any context - no team can carry a passenger. For you to lead at your best, you need to set time aside to look after your own performance as well as that of your team.
Red Flags:
Be cautious of these red flags; never taking a moment to yourself. Saying 'yes' to everything. Feeling sluggish in comparison to normal. Deep fatigue in your bones. Neglecting personal wellbeing and fitness.
Here's what you can do:
Step 1- Pause:
Take a minute right now to stop and pause. When you are looking out for your team, it is easy to be in go go go mode ... so, do nothing. Sit or stand. Just be for one minute.
Step 2 - Minimum Prep Time:
Identify the minimum amount of time you need to get ready for your next engagement ... be that a meeting with your team, a chat with your manager, presenting to a client, reviewing your last engagement.
Step 3 - Commit:
Hold to that minimum amount of necessary time to be at your best. Performing at your peak ability is a vital part of your leadership, so, ensure that you take the rest and preparation you need to be ready.
This is a vital leadership muscle for you to develop - you are part of the team and you need to ensure that you are serving it to the best of your ability. Building the habit of making time for yourself and your preparation will go a long way toward team effectiveness.
Tools:
Leadership
Emotional Intelligence