The Clear Leader
Here’s a thought
“If you let them holidays are great for gaining fresh perspective and getting clear on what is important.”
I have just had a week in Portugal with Sue – fantastic sunshine, great food, lots of exercise, watched “Fargo” Season 1, had a few quiet moments to think and did no work.
In one of my quiet moments I thought about what’s really important to me, this is it:
• My health and fitness
• Spending time with Sue
• The love and wellbeing of my family
• Knowing my customers are very happy with my work
• Learning and growing as a person
Today, back at work and in another quiet moment I have had a think about my strengths and weaknesses. I have lots of weaknesses, though work wise I have four strengths:
• Articulating ideas and concepts
• Organising and facilitating events
• Developing teams and collaboration
• Coaching leaders
I believe getting clear on what is important to me and my strengths is fundamental to knowing myself, being authentic and acting with integrity. I have been learning about myself for over 50 years; these occasional quiet moments [just] help me reconnect with me and better connect with people around me – family, colleagues, customers, readers.
Oh, I don’t spend too much time on my weaknesses, Tracey my PA brilliantly covers for most of them. That’s what she is great at, her strengths.
So, refreshed after my holiday I am raring to go and with a sharp clarity on what’s important and where I can make the biggest difference. Great!
I sometimes wonder about executives and managers who go on holiday with their laptop, Blackberry and mobile and continue work much as normal except for their location – where do they get their clarity and renewal? How do they separate out their true selves from all the daily mush, grind and data – followers are looking for clarity and if the leader hasn’t got it s/he cannot give it.
An alternative thought. I also wonder about those that holiday and simply have a fantastic time, without a thought about work or the meaning of life – that’s my next challenge!
If we let them holidays are great for getting clear.
The next Leader will be with you on Tuesday the 2nd December – maybe I will send this one again as a personal reminder before the Christmas holiday.