Please! Learn from my mistakes!

This and last weeks Podcast come directly out of 4 lessons I learnt from personally leading through anxiety.

• Transcript

  In my podcast last week, I spoke of a time when I stuffed up as a leader and it led to difficulty, anxiety, lack of productivity and focus for my team. Make sure to check out last week’s episode if you would like to find out about the first two lessons I learnt. 

  Since then I have had opportunity to implement the lessons I learnt, so here are two more lessons I have learnt because of that experience. As I have implemented these my teams have continued working towards our collective vision with greater vigour, purpose and intensity. 

  First lesson this morning: ‘Be the first and be confidently’. 

  How can my team navigate their own anxiety and difficulty if I am not willing to navigate the stormy seas myself? How will my team have those difficult conversations if I can’t model them in a healthy manner myself? Whether we like it or not, if we are leaders who want to move forward, there are going to be difficult projects, conversations and situations into which our staff are going to need to go. If we want to grow, we can’t let our teams stay in their comfort zone.  Inevitably when we leave our comfort zone, we need to navigate some fear.  Our people need to see us stepping confidently into those difficult situations. ‘Being the first and being confidently’ does wonders for the collective culture and levels of anxiety in your team.

  The final thing I learnt from that season was the importance of accountability. How does accountability help with anxiety levels? Well, anxiety is fear of an unknown future. Good accountability communicates appropriate boundaries for us to work in.  It conveys that the tasks set are important to you as the leader and the organisation. It conveys that you have appropriate control. You as the leader have a good understanding of where things are up to within your team and you are keeping everyone moving in the same direction.  

  Now, these things won’t change instantly. Listening to this podcast alone is not going to help you achieve these things. They will require regular evaluation and self-probing. Spend some time this week thinking about where you can move forward confidently and provide greater accountability for your team.