How can you balance personal goals with group leadership responsibilities?

In my experience, we must clearly articulate your personal goals. These could be related to career advancement, skill development, personal growth, or work-life balance. Prioritize your personal goals based on their importance and relevance to your overall well-being. Identify and understand your leadership responsibilities within and the group or organization. Prioritize your tasks based on importance. Regularly seek feedback from team members, peers, and superiors.

It helps to consider not just your personal goals but your broader personal vision and mission too. These will normally align and fit with the organisational vision but because they are personal to you they bring more powerful motivation and help you see exactly how your personal goals and those of your organisation and team align.

In leadership, it's key to balance your goals with the team's needs. Being transparent about your goals builds trust and helps everyone understand your decision-making process. It is important to find alignment between your vision and the team’s. Clear communication and mutual understanding between you and your team create a collaborative environment where both personal and group goals are met

Be open and honest about your personal goals with your team. Transparency builds trust and allows your team to understand your priorities. Clearly communicate the reasons behind your goals and how they align with the overall objectives of the group. Involve the team in the goal-setting process. Solicit input and feedback to ensure that personal and group goals are aligned. Demonstrate commitment and dedication to both your personal goals and group responsibilities. Lead by example to inspire your team members to do the same. Showcase how a balanced approach can lead to personal growth and overall team success.

Sharing your personal vision with your teams helps them understand you and your motivations. Even better run a small exercise where everyone shares their personal vision and mission. It’s a great way to build trust and bring new insight to relationships. The knowledge allows you to delegate tasks that you know align well to what the individual cares about.

In my experience, we must grant team members the authority and autonomy to make decisions within their areas of responsibility. Empowerment fosters a sense of ownership and accountability. Establish boundaries and guidelines, but allow flexibility for creativity and innovation. Maintain open lines of communication with your team. Regularly check in on progress, provide feedback, and offer support when needed. Foster a culture of problem-solving and decision-making within the team. Encourage team members to address challenges independently and propose solutions.

In my opinion, we must adopt a growth mindset, which involves seeing challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement. Embrace the belief that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. Actively seek feedback from your team members, peers, and superiors. Constructive feedback provides valuable insights into your strengths and areas for improvement, contributing to your personal and leadership development. Foster a culture of continuous learning within your team. Encourage team members to pursue professional development opportunities and share their newfound knowledge with the group. Ensure a healthy work-life balance to prevent burnout.

Your job as a leader is to first support your team in reaching their goals. Communicate the vision, provide them with resources to be successful, remove any barriers, and help them leverage their individual and collective strengths. Then share what you’re working on (including what doesn’t go as well as you hoped) and ask for their insights to learn with and from them. Remind them we’re all in this together.

Remember that your personal growth and development will ultimately benefit your teams and colleagues. It isn’t selfish to consider yourself and your needs and goals-it’s a critical part of your role as a leader. By focussing on your goals and being transparent about this with your team, you’re setting a great example to them to focus on their personal development and goals.