Taking Back The Leadership Controls

Hi everyone,

As we are all aware the past two years have been destructive and challenging, and yet for some, very exciting. Whatever camp you fit into, it has still been exhausting and at times confusing, as often we have not known what we should do ourselves and what we can expect of others.

When I speak to clients and people I know, there is a resounding sense that leadership has gone missing, or leadership simply did not know what to do in these unprecedented times.

But there are also great stories of leaders who stood their ground, faced things head on and came out the other side stronger than ever – because that’s what GREAT leaders do.

Stop for a moment and take a look at where you are as a leader, and where the other leaders in your organisation currently stand. Are you proud of the progress you have made, or are you tired, frustrated and still overwhelmed?

Maybe it is time to not address all of the outstanding issues at once, but instead take some time to refuel your leadership tank so that the wheel of uncertainty and doubt stops spinning quite so fast.

So, what can you do:

• Schedule time each day to just sit and think. Not about the problem, but solutions
• Ensure that you are not too busy to make contact and reach out to people both inside the workplace and externally
• Eat properly and exercise every day (I am working on this one)
• Begin to rediscover the privilege of leadership
• Don’t be afraid of success or personal advancement
• Stop dumping on yourself, because self-doubt quickly moves to self-pity and that is not good for anyone
• Do some leadership education (yes with Proteus) because we truly get what leaders are going through right now
• Be happy! I know it is not that easy but remember our happiness is totally dependent on our want to reach out and grab it.

As I have said all along – it is what it is, but what it becomes is entirely up to us.

I don’t write this message to sound like an expert, I write it because I too have, am, and will, go through the tough times just like everyone else, but I refuse to be dictated to by something that I can impact if I am prepared to acknowledge it and deal with it.

Remember; we all feel like a fraud sometimes, but that does not mean that we are!

So, even though it often doesn’t feel like it, leadership is, and will always be, a privilege, and you have been chosen to live that life and to inspire others to also discover that privilege.

Let’s get stronger and take back the controls together because the past two years cannot define our future in a negative way. We are better and stronger than that.

Have a great week.

Des Penny
Co-CEO
Proteus Leadership