Setting The Tone – How Did I Show Up Today

How did you show up today as a leader, a father, a mother, a son or daughter? What did you do for someone else with no expectation of anything in return? What do you do to get out of your own way? Why do we need to get out of our own way? How are you doing at blending work and life? How do you avoid being overwhelmed? How do you get on the right path and what results will you gain from this introspection?

When you think about it, dilute it to it’s most common element, IT is how we use the time we are given that consistently allows us to accomplish a task, a goal, a vision, a LIFE. Am I doing what I love? Am I doing the right thing today? Or, am I doing the wrong thing perfectly? The model is a brief glance in the rear view to reflect on our past and to neither dwell nor grovel at the lamenting failures we’ve encountered.  We are to open the planning cycle, seek out what need to do and how to do it by first understanding the WHY of it all.

Simon Sinek, the premier authority when it comes to the Golden Circle – the purpose, cause, or belief that inspires you to do what you do. Discovering your why or learning your why could be a small piece of gold to reignite your passion or it could be the life altering moment that changes you forever – that’s for your own aggrandizement.

In the military, those of us who were lucky enough to serve, put ourselves at risk to help others. Why? because they would have done it for us. In business, we sometimes earn a bonus by sacrificing others for our own self gain

We, in business, have it backwards! In order to show up and do the right thing at the right time for the right reason, we need to have clarity on what our purpose is for us as a leader, how we deliver our leadership and most importantly why are we honored enough to lead. Here are 7 steps to reflect on and 7 steps for planning – in other words, 7 things for 7 days!

7 Things For Reflection:

1. What went well last week? Everything we do in life is a choice and it’s up to us to choose wisely with our eyes off of ourselves. [kleo_gap size=”12px” class=”” id=””]

2. What choices did I make that were beneficial? If you really want to go deep, then ask yourself why were they beneficial. [kleo_gap size=”12px” class=”” id=””]

3. What choices did I make that were not? Things sometimes will go wrong by our choices whether we knew the impending results or not. It’s how we act and react to those choices that strengthen us. [kleo_gap size=”12px” class=”” id=””]

4. What relationships did I build and strengthen? The first 3 were about tasks and only because that’s how we’re conditioned. It’s not what’s important. It’s not B2B, B2C any longer. We are living in a new generation, a new paradigm of H2H – Human to Human connection. Follow the rabbit hole, if you dare, with Bryan Kramer [kleo_gap size=”12px” class=”” id=””]

5. What relationships were overlooked? More importantly, why? Why did you think you or your circumstance was more important than someone else’s? Are you that selfish? Busy? Are you really sure that’s what’s important to  you? Balance results, relationships and egos. [kleo_gap size=”12px” class=”” id=””]

6. Did I maintain my mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health? First was tasks, next came others and finally yourself. Take care of the engine that drives the bus or there will be no bus. Solitude and repetition of what grounds you will restore and invigorate you when you take your eyes off of yourself. [kleo_gap size=”12px” class=”” id=””]

7. What did I do to advance my team’s goals? Are you doing the right thing at the right time to the right degree of effectiveness? Am I on target and on task appropriately? Can I see the horizon from where I am or do I need to tack and gyb.

Take time every week at the end or at the beginning of a day to briefly reflect, take solitude and prepare for the upcoming week of events, people and places to focus your efforts and relationships with an eye towards helping others be more effective and happy.

7 Questions for Planning:

1. Based on what went well last week, what do I need to keep doing this week? Ride the wave of success, continue that practice until your intuition shows you a correction may be needed. [kleo_gap size=”12px” class=”” id=””]

2. Based on what didn’t go well last week, what do I need to stop doing this week?  Woops. So stop, no one said you have to frustrate and perpetuate a futilitous mass of crap. Course correct and make adjustments. If you made a mistake, then own it and move forward. [kleo_gap size=”12px” class=”” id=””]

3. What are my priorities? Take these in 3’s no more, no less. Focus on what’s important – simple, no more! Be practical, simple and elegant that’s what leaders do. [kleo_gap size=”12px” class=”” id=””]

4. What is one item on my calendar that I can delegate or eliminate? This list will grow as your confidence in yourself grows not confidence in your subordinate. It’s about your own self ability to LET GO! Can you? Leaders show up by letting go. [kleo_gap size=”12px” class=”” id=””]

5. What is the one thing I can do this week that will advance me and my team towards our goals? Again, we planned 3 on tasks, now moving towards interdependence and a focus on other people…understand the theme here? [kleo_gap size=”12px” class=”” id=””]

6. What is one key relationship I need to build, strengthen or recover? This list will build incrementally and eventually shall grow exponentially. If you give more kisses, then you get bigger hugs. [kleo_gap size=”12px” class=”” id=””]

7. What is one thing I can do to strengthen myself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually on a daily basis?  Commit to doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason. Take care of  yourself so you may take care of others. It’s your responsibility and your desire to discover why and to lead. [kleo_gap size=”12px” class=”” id=””]

People don’t buy what you do, they buy WHY you do it!

Every single organization on the planet, even our own careers, always function on three levels. What we do, How we do it and Why we do it. When all those pieces are aligned, it gives us a filter through which to make decisions. It provides a foundation for innovation. When all three pieces are in balance, others will say, with absolute clarity and certainty, “We know who you are, we know what you stand for.”

Very few people and organizations can clearly articulate WHY they do what they do. Why is a purpose, a cause or a belief. It provides a clear answer to why we get out of bed in the morning, Why our company even exists and why that should matter to anyone else – it’s the why that inspires us. How long will you continue along the same path expecting a different outcome? Don’t fear your self-imposed “unknown” and resolve yourself to be satisfied with marginal success. Do you have to be in distress to make a change? There’s an intersection of egos, relationships and results where the mindset tips the balance personally and professionally.

Leaders don’t change organizations – people inside the org do! Leaders change themselves on the inside to affect change! You facilitate change within the organization provided you’ve made the behavioral and perceptual changes first and your organization is in alignment by modeling those same behaviors. Great leaders are humble – it’s not about your confidence and good self-esteem – Elegant Leaders are not arrogant and filled with self-absorbed self-importance. Stop doing what’s not working and chart a new course. I look forward to and welcome your thoughts, questions and comments. For more articles or to connect with me here on LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+ or on our website or feel free to email me directly and ask about how you can show up and Become An Elegant Leader With Voltage today!