Leading with courage and consistency

- We hear the phrase, it starts at the top, a lot. That's because when you look at anything that happens within an organization, either positive or negative, you can almost always trace it back to the very top. What a leader believes, does and says sets the tone for the entire organization, even when that leader doesn't think they're being observed. Yeah, that's a lot of pressure for leaders, but it doesn't mean that you can't approach your leadership with humanity and authenticity. What it requires is a deep investment in self-awareness. This form of radical self-awareness is about understanding your own needs, motivations and triggers deeply. The first big one, how invested are you in the organization? That's an insane question, right? No, many times we see leaders who have stayed in that role for years and even decades. And naturally you can go on to autopilot doing your day to day job without a clear connection to why you're doing it or if it's really connected to your higher purpose. This form of disconnection creates deep chaos within the organization because the leader themselves does not feel purposeful. Leaders, remember this. If you don't feel as connected to the business as you once did, everyone from your customers to investors to employees will feel it. This lack of connection and awareness about the disconnect is one of the least tangible and most pervasive forms of organizational failure there is. So be very honest with yourself and check in about how connected you feel to the organization, it's mission and purpose. And if the answer to that question is that you no longer feel the connection, it is okay. All that means is that you've mastered this chapter and you're ready for your next big success. Other common sources of leadership chaos that stem from a lack of self awareness are habits within the leader that work against the common good or against the workforce and organization as a whole. Some of these habits include second guessing oneself, lack of trust in your leaders or employees, over-reactivity, lack of empathy, inconsistent communication and transparency, and a lack of personal accountability. In thinking about these categories, can you see yourself in any of these situations or have you received feedback similar to these categories that reflect how others perceive your leadership style? This exploration is a critical step to solving the root of chaos, your own leadership challenges. And once you've identified them, get curious about them. What triggers these behaviors? What fears or anxieties drive these characteristics and patterns? And most importantly, who can you to about and process these things with? Taking the bold and courageous steps to see and address your own leadership challenges is the most powerful act of leadership there is. A leader's job is to show others how it's done. So I hope you'll dive into this self-exploration with the same passion and fearlessness that you give to all of the other things you love.