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Realizing Your Inner Strength

Written by: David Carter

Article Overview: Many people I talk with today are focused on operational strategies and tactics for their company to survive in today’s economic downturn. While this is very important, I would like to focus on the “other side of the coin.” And that is the side that your leadership skills and energy reside on. Whether you are an owner or senior team member, are you achieving your inner strength for all those in your company who need your leadership? How do you as a leader motivate yourself? Here are some key guides I have learned and observed.

Realizing Your Inner Strength

Many people I talk with today are focused on operational strategies and tactics for their company to survive in today’s economic downturn. While this is very important, I would like to focus on the “other side of the coin.” And that is the side that your leadership skills and energy reside on. Whether you are an owner or senior team member, are you achieving your inner strength for all those in your company who need your leadership? How do you as a leader motivate yourself? Here are some key guides I have learned and observed:

Focus on your confidence level. To exhibit confidence, focus on what you want to accomplish, not what is wrong or not going as planned. Yes you must deal with reality, but avoid “drama glue.” Drama glue is characterized by continued focus on all that is not right to the extent that it becomes a drama—we talk, think and live the drama. This drama becomes glue that keeps you stuck. Get rid of the drama glue by talking, thinking, and living what you want to be, what you want your people to be, and what you want your company to be. Strong confidence is the result.

Take time to step back from your “day to day” operations (I know this is crucial today), and refocus and regenerate on your company purpose and mission. Why are we doing this? Keep your bigger picture in mind and put perspective to your challenges.

Stay engaged with your staff, customers and vendors. As Tom Peters would say, manage by wandering around! You will realize immense energy from understanding and embracing their concerns and hearing how much they need your leadership today more than ever.

Picture your toughest challenges as an exciting puzzle that you are in the process of solving. Can you think out of the box? No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it by focusing on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.

Leaders and owners can re-energize by reaching out to other minds such as your trusted advisors, supportive friends, colleagues and other key relationships. Remember, he who taps into the most minds wins!

And finally, Jack Welch states “Leadership has different seasons. It’s easy to find personal motivation in an upswing. In the heat of battle, however, you need to dig deeper and discover your “indomitable soul” – so you can share it with the people who need you most.”

There are many words of wisdom here. Key in on those that you resonate with the most and take action, now and every day, to realize your inner strength.

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Article Tags: inner strength, leadership skills



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