The 8 Steps to be a Better Leader
It’s no secret that everyone’s work environment has been affected by Covid-19 and the continued challenges that have followed since the start of the pandemic, such as a historically tight labor market, high inflation, and employee burnout. Recently, Not Another Goal shared a statistic from a study completed by Oracle that 53% of C-suite executives struggled with mental health issues due to the strenuous demands of their jobs. Leadership can be lonely and leading in today’s environment adds a new level of stress. However, there are steps individuals can take to manage stress. Each of these steps is rooted in support: support from your business community, your chosen family, and friends, or in spending time investing in yourself.
1. Consider establishing a regular connection with a fellow leader or entrepreneur.
When you meet with this person, talk to them about your challenges, wins, and goals. This regular meeting will help hold you accountable. Also consider telling this person about the problem you are having trouble solving and ask them how they may go about solving the same issue. It does not matter if you and your fellow leader are in the same line of business or doing something different. All that matters is that you are working on solving a problem and that they are giving you new insight.
2. Consider going to business retreats to meet other entrepreneurs or leaders looking for connection.
Business retreats or conferences are a great way to set goals and meet others who are in a similar position to yourself and could become part of your community. Take this time to learn from others and start sharing your insights. Retreats are also a great opportunity to demonstrate your learnings and expertise, which builds credibility and confidence in yourself and your business.
3. Seek out a sponsor mentor, advisor, or career coach.
Each of these individuals is dedicated to supporting you in your development, and can play a critical role depending on the terms of your relationship.
A sponsor can be helpful when seeking out a new opportunity. An advisor can provide insight into a specific area you are hoping to learn more about, such as finance, or legal advice. A career coach or executive coach can shed insight into your individual development. A mentor is dedicated to supporting your personal and professional development.
4. Join a community group or start a new hobby.
This doesn’t have to be related to work and can just be something that seems fun to you. Perhaps you like hiking or cooking so you find a meetup group who does just that. This time outside work will help you put your leadership role in perspective.
5. Schedule time outside of work with family and friends.
These are people who love you no matter what is going on with work. Take time to enjoy quality time with people you love. This is a reminder that you are not alone.
6. Consider adding a mindfulness practice into your daily routine.
Mindfulness or meditation is about acknowledging your feelings and letting them go. If we aren’t mindful, then we may act out from a place of stress. If you can spend just a few minutes doing a body scan or 5 minutes practicing meditation, then you can create more mindfulness in your day. From this point you can start addressing the emotions that are prevalent in your body and mind.
7. Therapy is another wonderful option that is worth investigating.Therapy should be a space that enables you to openly discuss and digest how you are feeling.
8. Consider journaling or practicing daily gratitude to help ground you in the present. Journaling helps you reflect on your feelings. Document accomplishments and record learnings when recounting that day.
Action into Insight: If you’re looking for a mentor, but not sure where to start, please feel free to reach out to Not Another Goal to see if there’s an opportunity to get connected with the Mentorship Program.
