Don’t believe the January hype. Change the rules to work for you.

Welcome to the first edition of Mentor in Your Pocket for 2024.

I don't know about you, but increasingly, I find the customary 'new year, goal-setting routine' feels a bit weird. Not because I'm a party pooper (far from it!) - but isn't January the worst time of year to be establishing important goals, strategies and resolutions, particularly as senior leaders?

The pressure to have all the answers in the first few weeks of the year can be overwhelming, especially when we're still recovering from the demands of 2023. Surely now is the exact time to show kindness to ourselves and our people.

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So, here's a wild thought: What if we consider April as the real start to the new year? When Mother Nature truly comes alive in spring is surely a more fitting backdrop for meaningful transformations?

Inspired by this perspective, I've made a small but significant change in my own business strategy by shifting my business cycle to run from April to April (instead of January to December) and honestly, I'm amazed by the positive impact it's had on my mindset and focus.

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So my key message today is simply to encourage you to pause, take a moment and reflect. Ask yourself these 3 questions:

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1. As a senior leader, how can you refine the goal-setting process to make it more effective for you and your team?

2. How are you prioritising time for yourself? (I'm a firm believer that leaders should eat first, not last!) 3.?What measures are in place for checking in on your team's emotional, physical and mental wellbeing??

And if it feels even a tad overwhelming to be thinking about these imperative questions: who have you got in your corner to help you?

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After all, high-performance leadership is not a solo gig - it's a far more enjoyable ride with the right expertise around you - and yet far too many senior leaders fail to invest in themselves.

If this has connected with you, made you think, or you'd like some feedback on your leadership approach for 2024, let's have a chat.

Finally, I've had the privilege of speaking at events such as AllBright, the IPA, Omniwomen, Samsung Ads (in Cannes) and WACL, so if you're looking for a Motivational Speaker to supercharge your leadership event or audience in 2024, find out more or book me here.

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Next month, I'll be sharing a simple but powerful tool to enhance your team's connection, effectiveness and overall wellbeing.

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Cheers Sally

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