2023 Year To Make It Happen

Let’s face it; last few years was either pretty awful or truly awesome for many of us.

Unfortunately the brain is predisposed to focus on the crap! Those threats, the negatives – and they hit us hard and tend to stay with us longer.

We can change our focus and let’s make 2023 happen for us as a year of hope, connection, compassion and courage!

Here are 11 ways to Make it Happen in 2023 (normally 10, I wanted to over deliver this year!) -

1. Focus on YOU!?Guess what we are not perfect and we all have weaknesses. We are all different and have our own strengths and talents. Focus on these as they are A LOT more fun (and empowering for your mind) and it will completely change your life by focusing on what makes you rock. Be authentic and be truly who YOU are. Don’t be anyone else. As Coco Chanel once said, “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.”

2. Stop Comparing!?It is human nature to look at what other people are doing. Don’t look at them though and say to yourself, I wish I was doing that, or had that. Or I wish I were as successful as them. Let them do it, have it and be successful. I don’t compare, I celebrate with them. And I focus on what I have, do and what I need to be the best I can be.

3. Surround yourself with your Tribe.?We all have people around us that want to help row our boat. We don’t need 10,000’s of people on Facebook or millions of contacts, but true friends, supporters, associates and people who want to help and support us to be the best we can be. In turn, we also must take care of our tribe. It is about GIVING not receiving. Also I love the concept of Benefit Mindset. I love supporting and caring for my tribe and network. Successful people have a great support network; make sure they are great!

4. Get rid of people who want to put holes in your boat.?Yes they are out there, people who want to bring us down, talk behind our back and don’t want the best for us. Get RID of them! They are not worth your time or space. Own your space and only surround yourself with your tribe. Life is way too short to waste on people who don’t want the best for you.

5. Write down Meaningful Goals and Intentions.?Did you see the word meaningful? We all seem to head into 2023 and have all the plans and goals in the world; I do it! Put meaning around them, the WHY, make sure they are measurable, don’t stress if you only get to 70%, put them into action and visit them everyday.

• I will have a positive mindset. ...
• I will go with the flow. ...
• I will spend less time on my phone. ...
• I will practice gratitude. ...
• I will let go. ...
• I will prioritize my mental health. ...
• I will get enough sleep. ...
• I will read more books.

Read more here.

6. Don’t stress about Stress.?This year our greatest theme we heard from leaders was “We are so busy. I am so stressed.” I get it. Yes we all have a lot on our plates. I decided this year to change my language and say I am hard working. Also at times my stress levels are higher than normal. When this happens, I find out why. Take a breath and think to myself, can I change it, accept it or remove myself from it. A little stress is okay, and if you reframe the stress and say to yourself it is okay, it will pass. If it doesn’t then do something about it. Watch this great TED talk on Stress.

7. Remember to Breathe.?Stop pedalling so fast. Stop and enjoy life. Please take a moment to give your brain and mind a rest - breath. Some of my greatest ideas and innovations happen when I am relaxed or zoning out. I take a walk in the park or along the water, and just breath. Our brains take up 20% of our body’s energy resources, and the more you are peddling, working hard and busy racing around, the more you will deplete our greatest resource. Take care of your brain, take care of you.

8. No More Diversity.?Leaders; diversity is incredibly important but let’s focus on acceptance, unique, inclusive, leadership, different, innovation, ideas, beautiful, love, equality and compassion. We have 8 billion different brains on this planet, and that means 8 billion ways of thinking differently. How cool! Let’s open ourselves up to this and take action. Stop talking just diversity and start being the truly inclusive leaders we are! We Lead OUR World. DEI all the way!

9. Collective Leadership.?The world has changed greatly due to a number of amazing variables. The ability to connect, collaborate and communicate globally has truly made a difference to our world. We now have the ability to collectively lead and make a difference to our world. Let’s own it. Let’s empower everyone around us. Let’s create the world we want to see.

10. Watch your Frame.?Have you ever worked or been with someone who sees the world as half empty? And you feel completely drained when you spend time with them or you are around them? One of my favourite books is the Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor where his research has proven that our brains work better when we are happy. Guess what we are the Director of our Brains and it is up to us to change our frames and focus on the positive. I am not saying ignore the negative; just don’t focus your entire frame on it, as I love to say “Attention Goes, Energy Flows!” When our brains are "happy" that positivity will ripple out to others and this can also can raise the productivity, motivation and engagement of others around you. Change the frame and you change the GAME!

11. Be a Leader.?You can do it. Imagine a world where we all saw ourselves as leaders. A world where we knew that making a difference to each other’s lives would change our world. If you haven’t watched the Ted Talk Lollipop Leadership, please do. It is only 5 minutes and will change how you see leadership and yourself. We are all leaders.

Hope you loved my 11 ways to Make it Happen and I would love to hear how you could put some or all of this into action! You might have some other ways you can make it happen too.

You’ve Got Courage, Yes You Do!

Courage isn't the absence of fear, it is the mastery of it (thanks Mark Twain)...we have got courage, yes we do. We are more courageous than we give ourselves credit for however it is time we call into this courage; now!

It is no secret that the world is crying out for leaders who are courageous, kind, empathetic, resilient, emotionally intelligent and passionate. Leaders who are not afraid to be authentic and be themselves. Great leaders are the ones who don’t strive for perfection, but rather focus on lessons they’ve learnt, valuing their team members and on self-improvement in both their personal and professional lives.

It’s important that we have courageous leaders because the world needs them, especially post-pandemic where many people are still struggling with the toll COVID-19 has taken on their families, jobs and livelihoods. Why? Because courageous leaders inspire and motivate their team members to achieve greatness and aren’t afraid to make the tough decisions, while communicating openly, displaying empathy and gratitude. We are now seeing leaders who do not display traits like empathy, kindness and who do not stand up for their community being held accountable by said community.

The struggle is real for many businesses who are experiencing difficulties retaining and attaining staff. This is because employees and job-seekers will no longer tolerate working for leaders and bosses who don’t value them, the work they do or the talents they bring to the business. Instead, employees would rather spend their time looking for a job that appreciates them, has a positive working environment, offers flexibility and gives them a good work-life balance.

I’ve written a book called First Comes Courage which explores the power of leading with courage, and offers great insights and tools to develop, nurture and grow courage within you and your teams. The book introduces you to the courage compass which you can use to guide your teams selflessly, building them up and enabling them with the tools they need to achieve success. You will learn to lead through example, using the four points on the courage compass: Kindness Impact Purpose Resilience.

You can find out more?here...

As usual, Harvard Business School has detailed some?excellent studies?in this story.

Here are just some of the excellent points featured in the article.

·?????96 percent of leaders believe purpose is important to their job satisfaction according to?report by EY.

·?????It was found that purpose builds organisational resilience and improves long-term financial performance in another?study by DDI.

·?????According to?research by TalentSmart, 90 percent of top performers in the workplace have a high degree of emotional intelligence, compared to 20 percent of bottom performers.

·?????A?recent study?found that employees’ perception of authentic leadership serves as the strongest predictor of their job satisfaction, organisational commitment, and workplace happiness.

Joining us for the 2023 for our AMAZING Women in Leadership Programs!

By?Sonia McDonald?– CEO of?LeadershipHQ?And?McDonald Inc.?Leadership Coach, Global Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur, CEO And Award Winning Author.

Sonia McDonald is changing the face of leadership across the globe. She believes we should lead with kindness and courage, from the heart, and is known for her mantra ‘Just Lead’. She leads by example in all these areas and through her transformational coaching, leadership training programs and cultural transformation for organisations and encourages others to do the same. Sonia has helped thousands of people on their leadership journey to become the best version of themselves and in turn, inspire and bring out the best in others.

Sonia is a founder and CEO of?McDonald Inc.,?LeadershipHQ?and?Global Outstanding Leadership Awards?and Events. For more than 25 years, Sonia has been on the front lines of leadership and she is beyond committed to her mission around building a world of great leaders.

She has held leadership positions worldwide and through experience, research and study come to realise what it takes to be a truly great leader. She has been recognised by Richtopia as One of the Top 250 Influential Women across the Globe and Top 100 Australian Entrepreneurs.

Sonia has an ability to speak bravely and authentically about her own development as a leader, personal and career challenges in a way which resonates with her audience. She is a leading coach, an award-winning published author of newly released?First Comes Courage, Leadership Attitude and Just Rock It!?and has become an in-demand and motivational keynote speaker on leadership, kindness and courage.

Sonia has become recognised for her commentary around the topic of leadership, kindness, empathy and courage as well as building outstanding leadership across the Globe.?