If you're feeling like me and, based on social media and messages you've sent me, you are, there is just too much going on right now. Am I right?

After work on Friday I had a great virtual chat with a great person. It was nice to catch up with them since we haven't seen each other in-person for several months. The call ended and I was so happy to have spoken with them. They're a great person, a great leader I admire, and their energy is so good for my soul. 

And then I had a moment.

I felt sad, disappointed and frustrated that our best way of connecting with folks is still virtually. I miss face to face contact. I miss the warm embrace from my family and dear friends. I miss  casual run-ins in the office on a Friday that turn into a few of us having a laughing fest. I miss seeing my nephew, Goddaughter and the other beautiful kids in my life.

My eyes welled up with tears.

I took in the silence, I meditated and afterwards, I reflected and wrote a list of those things/ people/ experiences for which I am grateful. I felt rebalanced and grounded afterwards. 

Last week I shared insight and questions to help you easily dive deeper in self-reflection. Click here for a quick reminder.  I think that sitting actively in the space of reflection for this week is just what the doctor ordered. 
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Breathe, fierce friends, even leaders need to remove their cape and show themselves the grace they show others.

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

In last week's Fierce Leadership blog, I encouraged you to hold tight on giving 2020 the "good riddance!" send off in favour or a more effective approach. What emotions and thoughts did you experience when you paused and reflected on last year? Did you procrastinate? Have a few false starts? Felt a bit uncomfortable even though you were sitting with no one around? 

"Self-reflection (noun): careful thought about your own behavior and beliefs." - Merriam-Webster

Self-reflection can leave us feeling uneasy so much so that we avoid starting the process. However, if you can push through any discomfort and dive deep, you'll be impressed by the insight you gain thinking about the good, the bad, and the ugly of your observations and experiences. 

"The hardest leaders to coach aren't those who think they know everything, avoid responsibility, or belittle their team. The hardest leaders to coach are those who don't pause in reflection of themselves." - Michele D. Cameron

If you still need a bit of a nudge because you are unsure of how to start, here are 4 simple and practical ways:

1. Schedule it. We're driven by our calendars so treat this time as you do any important meeting - book a meeting with yourself.
2. Start small. When I first tried meditating, I booked one hour sessions with myself. That's a long time for someone new to the practice. It was a complete failure! I had several false starts until I started small and committed to meditating for five minutes a day. It worked perfectly! A one hour session is no longer too big of a stretch.
3. Align your process with your preferences. If journaling isn't an effective way for you to reflect, don't do it! Hop on the phone and speak with someone in your Circle of Champions, a coach or other thought partner. Use voice memos, go for a walk, or sit in silence. There isn't one size that fits all so pick what works for you and go! 
4. Act. All the planning in the world falls to the wayside if we fail to act. Take one tiny step towards action at least once every day.

I shared a few questions last week to ease you into the process. Here are a few deeper dive questions that I really like to use:

1. What type of leader do I wish to be? What actions/decisions have I made that align with this intent? What actions/decisions counter it?
2. What am I doing that makes me (and my team members) feel energized? What does that say about me? What opportunities can I create that make me (and my team members) feel energized?
3. When do I feel most powerful? Anxious? Successful? Grounded?
4. What is my role on the team, in my organization, as a coach?
5. Who on my team should I be developing? How?
6. If I was one of my team members, how would I rate myself and why?

Reflect often so you truly understand the opportunities that await you.

Photo by The Creative Exchange on Unsplash

Every day provides a new opportunity to write a chapter in your book.

Were you eager to say, "Good riddance!" to 2020? Be honest. We had a pandemic and multiple lives lost due to it, the start of a global economic downturn, personal and professional challenges. The list goes on! There have been more than a fair share of challenges this past year. 

However, even through the cloud, life still provides light.

We can't control everything that life throws at us but it's key to focus on what's in our control. What if there was a way to welcome the New Year that sets the stage for success in 2021? Would you be interested?

Success in leadership and life requires that we pause, reflect, and stay the course or pivot accordingly. This should be done regularly whether it’s sparked by the need to make or the outcome of a major decision or the desire for self-reflection to uncover insight into ourselves and uncover lessons learned. 

What were your 2020 highlights? Lowlights? Lessons learned? What behaviour do you want to leave in the past and what behaviours do you plan to improve in 2021? Anchor this to the question you’ve heard me ask before, What kind of leader do you want to be? 

Pause. Reflect. Plan. Use the simple guiding questions above as an easy start. I encourage you to dive deeper. Email me for additional questions. As you've likely heard from me before, failing to plan means you're planning to fail. Let's make this year a year of planned success.