Leadership can feel like a lonely journey. What’s more, the cultural myth of the “lone ranger” leader is strong, pervasive and can lead to isolation. The truth is every leader needs a community around them in order to point out blind spots and bring out their best. In this conversation with GLN President Tom De Vries, Jo Saxton—author, speaker, podcast host and coach—offers up advice on how to cultivate your “village”, and how to be a helpful part of community for other leaders as well.
SUMMARY:
ENTHUSIASM AND ANXIETY ARE BOTH PART OF LEADERSHIP. We often have both of these responses inside us as part of our story.
“ECHOES” OF A CALL TO LEADERSHIP CAN ENCOURAGE US. When different people reinforce the call to leadership, it makes it easier to embrace our roles and can give us just enough courage for the next step.
SOMETIMES COURAGE IS JUST COURAGE FOR THE NEXT STEP. When different people reinforce the call to leadership, it makes it easier to embrace our roles.
EXAMINE EXTERNAL HABITS. Our woundedness can threaten to overshadow our work. Take time to reflect on any external habits that might undermine what you’re trying to accomplish.
FIND TRUSTED ADVISORS. Carefully find a “healing community” of people—often more experienced than ourselves—who can help you navigate healthy change.
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR “PRESENT BROKENNESS.” While you may not be responsible for things that happened to you in the past, you are responsible for how the broken parts of your story live in your life now.
CULTIVATE A COMMUNITY AROUND YOU. We stand as individual leaders, but the community around us helps us to identify blind spots.
“ACCOUNTABILITY” VS ACCOUNTABILITY. You can “play” with accountability, or you can actually do it. Humility and desperation can help drive us to embrace true accountability.
MAKE THE MOST OF RESOURCES AROUND YOU. Therapists, friends and the voices of our “elders”/more experienced leaders are critical tools for our development.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A LEADER. The idea of a single, solitary leader is a myth. There is always a community that surrounds each individual leader. Ask yourself,
“Who is your village?”
“Do I have a trusted friend? When was the last time you spoke to them?”
“Is there someone from a different generation in your village?”
“Is there someone from a different culture in your village?”
BE COMMUNITY FOR OTHER LEADERS. Who can you encourage? Not just on their achievements, but in the “messy middle”, on who they are.
COACHING BRINGS OUT OUR BEST. A good coach can unlock every leader’s “unconscious competence.”
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