“If knowing yourself and being yourself were as easy to do as to talk about, there wouldn’t be nearly so many people walking around in borrowed postures, spouting secondhand ideas, trying desperately to fit in rather than to stand out.”
― Warren G. Bennis

In this world of busyness it is easy to be caught in the current and float, rather than  swim.  To be a leader in your profession or tribe requires coming from your center, your truth.  In addition, you need to be able to clearly articulate what is important and why.  You can no longer “walk the talk”. This world needs you to “talk what you are walking” so people can see the path and the road ahead.

“…once you recognize, or admit, that your primary goal is to fully express yourself, you will find the means to achieve the rest of your goals…”
― Warren G. Bennis,

Here are seven practices to keep you center and grounded as a leader:

1. Expectation – understand in every situation what others expect of you.  Ask questions. Define the best way you can participate in the situation. Reflect whether that is something you can meet or not and speak to it.

2. Purpose – define your purpose in any situation.  Look where it works for you and where it does not.  Decide how you want to address where it does not work or not.

3. Understanding – ask open questions to understand situations and others.  Become a student of human nature and enter into conversations and situations as a learner.

“Taking charge of your own learning is a part of taking charge of your life, which is the sine qua non in becoming an integrated person.”
― Warren G. Bennis

4. Expand – go a little bit outside your comfort zone each day.

5. Read – read literature that expands your mind, your world view, and keeps your thinking wide open and expansive

6. New Skills – continue to learn new skills, especially if you have no given talent in the arena.  You will develop yourself in amazing ways.

7. Random – do random acts of kindness for others that cannot be traced back to you.

“To be authentic is literally to be your own author, to discover your own native energies and desires, and then to find your own way of acting on them.”
― Warren G. Bennis

Leadership is a practice that requires you to constantly and passionately grow yourself in any arena. Often you will be put in situations that you did not create or can control,and yet it will be up to you to respond in such a way that provides positive growth for you and others.   Your ability to practice the above will allow you to adapt and change in most situations.

Continue to thrive,

Bobbie Goheen