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We are working our way through the list of 21 qualities leaders must possess to lead during this time of complexity. The 21 qualities showcased in my new book, Healing Leadership: How to Lead, Love, and Thrive in Business and Life.
We already covered the first four qualities. Healing and empowering leaders:
Communicate powerfully, including listening.
Show empathy and high emotional intelligence.
Value and empower their team.
Set the vision.
Lead with Flexibility
Healing and empowering leaders are also flexible, which is the fifth quality leaders require to support their teams, develop a unique edge, and lead during times of high uncertainty.
For many Type-A personalities, high achievers, high performers, high potential professionals leading with flexibility can be challenging because we can be very driven and results-focused.
However, leading with flexibility at work means that we make plans for our organizations and teams and are open to pivot or tweak those plans whenever a situation shows us that what we had planned isn't working out as expected.
Here's a simple example in our personal lives. Flexibility would look like this: we plan to do something with a friend, the weather changes or our friend has a change in circumstances, and we make other plans.
I remember an incident a couple of years ago when I had planned a family outing to celebrate my 50th birthday in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. While at the airport, I discovered that my son's passport had expired a couple of months earlier, and he would not be able to travel. I guided all my guests, friends and family, to proceed with their flight as my son and I figured out the next steps. My son suggested that he stay behind and participate in his baseball games which he was willing to miss to join in the family festivities. His father was able to pick him up at the airport, and I was on a flight to Punta Cana a couple of hours later.
When we embrace flexibility, we can think on our feet. We zoom out and realize tthat the sky is not falling.
Resistance vs. Flexibility
Have you noticed what happens whenever you resist what is happening, making changes? Resistance is the opposite of flexibility.
If you are like me and many of my clients, when we resist what is happening, we experience many negative emotions, ranging from disappointment, disenchantment to anxiety, anger, and any other emotion in between.
Being flexible as a leader empowers you personally and helps you manage yourself better to show up in a cheerful disposition instead of resisting the change and negatively impacting your team.
Showing up with flexibility allows you to see what is happening and respond vs. react.
As we become more agile and flexible, respond creatively, and behave constructively, we role-model the behavior for our teams and are more apt to coach them when they are in crisis and projects go sideways.
From a flexible mindset, we can mentor our teams effectively and avoid creating panic and a stressful environment by reacting and being overly emotional about what is happening.
More flexibility, more well-being
Bringing emotional flexibility to your every day will positively affect you, personally and professionally.
How does this topic of being flexible resonate for you?
Is this a topic that you struggle with, personally or professionally?
Do you feel threatened when things change?
What have you noticed when you show up with a rigid mind frame to work? Do you find yourself butting heads with other leaders in your organization or perhaps with team members who may be more adept at dealing with change?
What about personally? Do you go with the flow or resist deviating from the plan at all costs...including your relationships?
Take note of your answers. As one of my mentors says, "how you do one thing is how you do everything." If you find yourself being inflexible in your personal life, most likely, you're also rigid in your business and your professional life as well.
Self-awareness is invaluable. Notice where you are and choose to practice flexibility. It will save you a lot of unnecessary headaches and help you become a more empowered and uplifting leader to be around.
You can reach us at www.callwithginny.com to set up a complimentary strategy session and explore how our programs can help you rise to your full potential.
In the meantime, be fearless! (act despite the fear)
Coach Ginny 💕
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About Dr. Ginny A. Baro
Dr. Ginny A. Baro is a sought-after international motivational speaker & leadership coach, a career strategist, and #1 bestselling author of Fearless Women at Work.
Ginny specializes in partnering with organization to develop leadership teams at all levels of management. And she supports individuals navigating a corporate hierarchy or moving into an entirely new phase of their career. She has successfully facilitated live and virtual leadership training and coaching programs for individuals and Fortune 500 companies with over 140,000 employees and delivered keynotes impacting international audiences larger than 7,000. To learn more, visit ExecutiveBound.
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