The Actionable One

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Welcome to another edition of The Leadershifts Chronicle, a newsletter where I share ideas and resources for leaders who build better businesses and explore new ways of running an organisation.

Earlier this week, I had another great dinner with Annelies Smetryns , a friend who has a great interest in and knowledge of Employee-Centricity and employee well-being.

Although we both like gaining new knowledge, the most important thing is doing the actual work. When creating a workshop, try it out, test it, and improve it to have the right impact. Just do it and improve it!

Most leadership trainings are about teaching ideas, sharing best practices, and increasing knowledge. But successful people rarely become better leaders because they know more. They become better leaders because they follow through on what they know.

This is mainly a note to myself... Just go out and leave the trail. It might not be perfect from the beginning, but the most important thing is to start!

Welcome to this week's Leadershifts Chronicle...

Enjoy...

?? What's needed to create the right conditions to be a resilient leader ?

TNM Coaching and Damian Fearns compiled this list:

1. Meaning and Purpose: A deep belief in a cause or vision sustains leaders through hardships. Leaders often find resilience by connecting their work to a larger purpose, such as serving others or advancing a significant movement.
2. Headspace: Resilient leaders allocate time daily to rest, reflect, and think clearly. This practice enhances decision-making and problem-solving by allowing the brain to access its creative potential.
3. Connection with Others: Social connections strengthen resilience. Quality interactions and a sense of belonging reduce stress and enhance adaptability. Building interdependent relationships based on trust and psychological safety is crucial.
4. Self-care: Maintaining good sleep, healthy eating, and regular exercise is essential for overall resilience. Leaders must care for their biological, psychological, and social well-being.

?? How do you develop Leadership Skills ? It's not about learning more but doing it on the work floor. The best way is to practice in situations where the perceived risk is much higher than the actual risk. So, create a low-risk environment for yourself.

?? Learning can be effectively improved through a structured approach. An intentional learning strategy involves setting clear, achievable goals within a specified timeframe and enlisting support from others.

The "3x3x3" method recommends setting three goals over three months and engaging three people to support and hold you accountable.

?? As a leader, we often encounter team conflicts. Not all conflicts are the same, so Harvard Business Review defined 4 common types of team conflict and how to resolve them .

Stuart Andrews created a nice visual based on this article.

Things to Watch:

"My business is to help people learn how to value themselves and how to communicate their value to others "

It's a quote by Chris Do , and although this talk is targeted at designers and content creators, as leaders, we also need to value ourselves. Do we really value our worth and impact? Many leaders are humble, which is a great quality, but we should play small to bring the needed change and impact to this world.

So that's it for this week.

Like always, feedback is very welcome and appreciated. It helps me grow on my path to becoming a better leader.

Have a great weekend and till next week...

Wouter

The Leadershifts Chronicle dives deep into the evolving paradigms of leadership, offering a regular exploration of how visionary leaders are transforming their approach to navigate the complexities of today's world. It's your curated guide to the stories, strategies, and insights that define the next generation of leadership excellence, curated by Wouter Gheysen. Wouter founded Systemic Rebels, and Out of Our Minds provides services to transform your organisation into a future-ready one.

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