The Breakthrough

I had a recent breakthrough on the subject of leadership.

To give some context,  I have been working in a management capacity for over 10 years.  Over the last decade, the scope of my leadership has ranged from 1 to 350+ employees.  As my staff and responsibilities have grown, I have been spending more and more time developing my leadership skills.  A large portion of this time has been spent constantly researching and studying thought and opinion leaders in leadership (check out the blog list on the right column for some of my recent favorites).

I have always subscribed to the belief that leadership is service at its heart.  Selflessness, empathy, presence - these are the traits of the most compelling and successful leaders.  

For years, I have discovered, practiced and taught these traits to others.  But these practices took more energy than they should, as if they weren't coming naturally.  I would end each work day exhausted - something seemed to be off-balance; missing.

The breakthrough happened after some reflection on my path and my core values.   Following Simon Sinek's teachings, I asked myself - "why was leadership and service so important to me?"

The answer resonated deeply:

I want to help people feel safe enough to authentically and deeply engage right now in their real world.

With my own purpose now defined and in place, I have been able to lead with more focus and clarity on the purpose of others.  Every interaction now feels intentional and energizing.

Breakthrough:  Like the airplane oxygen mask in a depressurized cabin, find your balanced center before helping others try to find theirs.