Leadership Is Like Hot Yoga. (#167)
The Confident Leader
BOOST YOUR LEADERSHIP IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
Recently, a friend invited me to join them for yoga. In the spirit of trying new things, I accepted without knowing what I was really getting myself into.
“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
— Harry Truman (U.S. President)
This Week’s Edition
It can be easy for leaders to look for the emergency exit when they are in an uncomfortable situation. What does today’s leader need to do to skill up so they can stay in the game?
Clarify Your Thinking
Turns out this particular yoga class was a 90-minute hot yoga session. Come to find out … that means 105 degrees for a long time! I knew I was in trouble when I started sweating before the class even began.
The instructor started by asking, “where is Robin?” Immediately, I realized I was the only newbie. Everyone else was a regular. The room instantly felt a little hotter, if that was even possible.
She proceeded to say, “Robin, we are glad you are here. Now remember… the goal of the session is just to stay in the room.”
“That’s the goal? That’s it? I’m not prepared for this on any level,” I thought. Instantly, I doubted my ability to meet the minimum goal. “Where’s the exit?”
Leaders I speak with on a weekly basis feel the same way. They express not being conditioned for the “hot yoga” class being offered to them by the economy, their industry and the internal challenges they are experiencing.
Old Thinking: Leadership is too much. I’m not trained for this. I can’t even stay in the room. Where is the exit?
New Thinking: If I’m going to be a leader I might as well be a good one. How can I level up so I can ‘stay in the room’?
Thoughts Lead to Actions
My immediate instinct was… to look for the exit the minute the heat cranked up. For leaders, that’s the equivalent of of questioning whether they even want to continue being a leader.
The world cannot afford to lose any earnest leaders. If you are in the role, stick with it. The goal: stay in the room!
How do I meet the goal? Well, in order to get better at yoga, I’ve got to:
- Know what to do.
- Know why I am doing it.
- Believe and commit!
- Attend regularly to condition myself to the environment.
- Skill up and practice.
Leaders have the same opportunity. Try any one of these approaches to develop greater leadership skill and put that skill into practice:
- Join a leadership group. Be in the company of other leaders working on becoming better leaders.
- Hire a business coach to help you focus on specific skills.
- Attend a leadership development workshop.
- Read a leadership book for the issue you might be experiencing.
- Listen to a leadership podcast.
In short, invest time and money to advance your leadership development priorities. Good leadership is attainable and it is the difference maker.
We are committed to leadership development and will help you find the resources you need even if that means it might not be us. We are here to help you secure your future (not secure our own future).
We see the relief leaders experience when they discover new ways to handle challenges that have plagued them for years. Leadership Doubt gets defeated. Confidence grows.
Boost Your Performance
Watch this week’s video to understand how to fully condition leadership for the coming onslaught of challenges that will most likely present themselves in the coming quarters.
What’s Your Opinion?
How are you investing in your leadership? Share it with me at robin.pou@robinpou.com.
If you are going to be a leader, you might as well be a good one. Don’t let doubt count you out. Have a confident week!
Robin Pou, Chief Advisor and Strategist
We live to make bad leadership extinct so forward this newsletter to others who strive to be confident leaders.
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