Confidence in Leadership Strengths

What would you rather be wearing to scale these crags? Flip flops? Or something a little sturdier?

Would you want to be thinking “Can I trust my shoes?" or “Where’s the next hand hold?”

When facing the next storm of change and leading into the chaos of evolution, the last thing leaders need to be wondering about is how they will maintain their footing to withstand that next wave.

So, what are you standing in? What are your strengths? What are you rock-solid sure about yourself? What are your greatest assets in the storms of change?

One of my clients once said “never under-invest in what comes between you and the earth.” (We were talking about shoes.) In light of the acceleration of change, investing in your confidence in what you are standing in – your strengths - is crucial for every leader.

In my experience, the greatest confidence one can gain in one’s own strengths comes through reflection and evaluation of one’s self. Taking the time to reflect on your values – understanding what, for you, are non-negotiables; Evaluating your strengths and how you have responded to different situations; Exploring when you have shone in situations without much effort – what has come easy for you that isn’t so easy for others; When you have felt “lit-up” or when have you been in “flow” – flying along, oblivious to time; what pulls you down; And, what strengths and qualities have others seen in you.

How confident are you in your strengths? Are you investing in those strengths? What strengths will be required for you and your team to come through the next storm of change? What strengths reside within each of your team members? What might be missing?

Companies that are evolving, responding to change, are doing so with new management cultures that support open, collaborative work styles. Quentin McDowell explores how organizations evolve, and how they ‘leverage disruptions’ in his article Creating the Conditions for Organizational Evolution (https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/01/11/creating-the-conditions-for-organizational-evolution/) McDowell suggests leaders must “attune to their community, envision change through a collective lens and develop an intentional plan for evolution that is owned and affirmed by all.”

What lies with the tool-box of strengths on your team? How will you engage the strengths of your team members to maximize the observational antennae of the entire team, and collaborate to collectively navigate the possible routes through change and evolution?

Need help finding out? My work focuses on developing leaders that create and lead innovative, creative and resilient teams.