3 Things Leaders Need Post-Covid

To all my lady leaders out there, it’s been more than two years since the pandemic started, how are you feeling today?

In this blog, I will share with you what leaders need post-COVID, but first, let’s define what a leader is.

What is a leader?

A female business leader in a corporation is often a manager, supervisor, a VP or the CEO. On the flip side, she could own her own business as a solopreneur, small business owner or entrepreneur.?Either way, they're a leader in their own capacity in their community. There are other ways that you could be a leader too, so if you identify as a leader, then you’ll want to read on.

You know that Leaders take care of others. Well Covid not only had us take care of more regulations, health policies and economic changes, but also increased the needs of our people and clients while at the same time lowered our bandwidth to deal with it. Yeah it was tough.?

You were responsible for other people, and therefore, their…

• Needs
• Suffering
• Negativity

You have to take care of it and be a sounding board, understanding and follow the laws. There's a lot of burden and stress on you.

I feel that as well with my community. I am the head of it. The one who even when things are hard for me I need to…

• put on a happy face?
• Be consistent
• keep things positive
• inspire and encourage others

It can be draining at times. Agree?

While it may have been nice that we're not commuting to work as much, and there are not as many events and things to go to, we’re also in a place right now where we have Zoom fatigue from being on the computer so much. We're maybe a little bit more stressed, or maybe not eating as well, or not taking as good care of ourselves because of everything that's going on.?

Three Things to Get You Going Again

Leaders, I got your back! Here are some options of how to be able to get your spark or energy back. To recharge and be back fully in charge:

1. Inspiration

You need to be re-inspired to do what you do. That can come from new ideas or stories. The benefit of this is it can create action for you and improve your mindset.

We often get inspiration from other people sharing their ideas and their stories of what they have done so that we can see what's possible out there. It opens up or shifts your mindset to think, “Wow, they could do that… I can do that, too!” or “There are a lot of similarities between us.”

That's a really good idea. It's a really good option. It gives you hope, and a lot of our hope has been stripped from us with what's going on in the world today. Even with Covid easing off, there’s the war in Ukraine, natural disasters, and inflation. No matter what it is, there are things that are taking away your energy. Inspiration gives you your energy back. It invigorates you.?

But you have to be able to block everything out, and have a set amount of time so that when you hear these stories, your creative brain can take them in. Then when you're done feeling better, creative, and inspired, that will move you into action.?

Some people think, “I don't have time to be inspired. I don't have time to sit and listen to someone's story or have them share some new ideas with me.”?

Well, the thing is, when you come back, you're going to be re-energized. You're going to have inspiration, that's going to be the fuel to propel you forward through times when:

• you just don't want to do what you're supposed to do
• you're procrastinating
• you're suffering from perfectionism, or?
• you just can't be bothered because you're not feeling the resonance or energy that you need to be feeling.?

???2. Connection

You want to feel a sense of belonging with others, and maybe you were happy to be holed up in your home or in your office with your small bubble. But we really want a sense of belonging now more than ever.?

Women were meant to hang out together. We're meant to be in a group. We're meant to be sitting around together, telling stories and connecting.?

When we connect to others there are many benefits:

• We feel a sense of belonging.
• We then feel like we're being understood.
• Other people understand where we're coming from.?
• They can connect with us.?
• We feel like we're heard.?

There's been a lot of segregation, and a lot of isolating over the past few years. Me being a social butterfly, I thought that I'd be all over wanting to get back together, but part of me can't be bothered. Part of me thinks that's a lot of energy. However, when I do connect, even in small groups with people, there's this joy that comes up.

Last May, I went to an online event with ICF (the International Coaching Federation) event because I'm a PCC (Professional Certified Coach). We’re in the breakout room, and I was chatting with a coach from Nigeria. That just made the world feel really small because I was seeing into his home. I was hearing about his day, his life, how he coaches and how he uses it in his work. It was super cool. Then talking with other people about our obstacles and hearing other people talk about their struggles was comforting to know that I'm not alone.

The problem is we often don't get connected as leaders because we're supporting everyone else. It's oftentimes top-down and not that you're thinking you're better than them, but there is that disconnect. You're not able to be on the same level. You can't talk about your feelings with them. You can't be vulnerable with them. You have to keep a happy face on and lead everyone. It’s emotional labour and sometimes lonely.

??3. Wisdom

We have had to make so many important strategic, crucial decisions over the past few years

• to keep our businesses running?
• to keep our career going?
• to keep people that work with us doing well

And a lot of it was with the mandates, restrictions and health measures.

Wouldn’t it be nice for once to just be told what to do? To know there are proven techniques we can just follow? It’s a wise decision to have someone else figure things out and tell us the wisdom, tell us the knowledge, tell us the expertise.

It gives us a bit of a break. Yes, leaders need a break. We need to have some time where we don't have to figure it all out ourselves. It'd be nice to be able to say, “Tell me ABCD steps, and I'll do them.”?

In one of my pilates classes, my instructor Karen told us, “Now if you want to add into bicep curls, you can do those now. Too.” We all started doing them. I joked to her, “Don't ask me if I want to do them. Just tell me to do it.”

A lot of times we know what to do. But boy, it’s just so much easier when someone tells us. We don’t have to figure it all out. We don't even have to research it if someone else has done it and uses a proven technique or a proven process that gets results.?

So don’t feel bad about going to experts to be shown what to do.?It’s a valuable investment of time and money PLUS their wisdom can get you ahead faster that you can and that action will give you so much momentum and motivation.

Your ROI is guaranteed if you do it this way. It's so much nicer.?

These are the three things I think all leaders need post-COVID: inspiration, connection, and wisdom.?

One way to get all these three without even leaving like you don't have to leave the comfort of your own home is by attending Dynamic Women events. You don't have to go into big crowds. You don't have to invest a ton of money. You can be inspired by the stories and information I share or my guests share. You’ll be able to connect with other women attending. On top of that, you’ll get wisdom that you can use in your life and business. To be updated with our events, join the?Dynamic Women Global Community!?

Read my other blogs here:

1.?5 Ways I Kept My Business and Life Going During the Pandemic

2.?Stop the Panic: 7 Ways to Keep Your Business & Life Going During the Coronavirus

3.?Want more success? Then pull up your big girl panties!