Leadership Development
At the turn of another New Year, will you pause and reflect to identify areas for improvement in your leadership skills, or will you hope for the best and carry on regardless?
Experience can be viewed in two ways. Some people have 25 years of experience as a leader. Some people have one year, repeated 25 times.
Which are you?
It’s no secret that I am a massive fan of Stephen Covey’s great book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. It’s an oldie, but a goodie.
At this time of year, I am drawn to Habit 7 – “Sharpen the Saw” – Principles of Balance and self-renewal. Are you?
The phrase comes from the fable of the woodcutter chopping wood frantically, but not stopping to sharpen the tool he was using. Each subsequent tree took longer to chop down. If he’d only stopped to sharpen the saw, he would have been far more productive for much more time.
It is these little things which make the difference to effectiveness.
This quote from Bruce Barton is at the beginning of Habit 7:
Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things….I am tempted to think…. There are no little things.
Do you take care to sharpen the saw – i.e. focus on renewal?
According to Covey, and philosopher Herb Shepherd, there are 4 elements to sharpening the saw:
- Physical – exercise, nutrition, stress management
- Mental – reading, visualising, planning, writing,
- Social – service, empathy, synergy, intrinsic security
- Spiritual – value clarification, commitment, study and meditation.
Yoga is physical and spiritual for me. It is my go-to habit – especially in the mornings. I also practise TM meditation. I journal every day. This comes physical and spiritual (1 & 4) I try to read or listen to new knowledge at least every week. I prioritise my own learning and improvement. (2) I aim to be of service, create synergy in my coaching practise and all my relationships where I can. I struggle a little with intrinsic security!
My question for you is:
What renewal will you do in 2025? You are cordially invited to become an Even Better Leader….
Applications are open for February’s cohort. Apply here:
https://lnkd.in/eTZvNmM9
If you would like to explore a way to become an Even Better Leader with me , you can book your free consultation via a zoom session here…