How can YOU be a Heart-centered and Daring Leader at the same time?

Self-awareness, communication, influence and learning agility have been identified as the four fundamental skills needed by leaders in any organization and in any industry. These fundamentals have many layers to them, but for simplicity, I prefer to educate and enhance people's knowledge and understanding on the "how" for each fundamental.

Self-Awareness: the ability to tune in to your feelings, thoughts, and actions. Being self-aware also means being able to recognize how other people see you. People who are self-aware recognize their strengths and their challenges.

How can you tune into your feelings, thoughts and actions?

One of my therapists, in the past, asked me to practice an exercise whenever I was enduring a significant emotion. She asked me to be present in the experience, live it, identify the emotion and accept it; whether it is positive or negative. I did as she asked. This exercise helped me greatly. I was one to brush off tough situations and feelings, however, I decided to comply and do as she said. Once I began practicing this emotion identified exercise, it allowed me to accept what I was feeling, why I was feeling it and how it was making me feel. We need to accept the good and the bad. We need to accept that someone will trigger us and we need to accept that someone will compliment us. The true transformation occurs when you understand why and how these emotions impacted your decision-making capabilities at the time of the incident or post-incident. What you do about it is what will echo who and what you are made of. I have come a long way and yes, I am still a learner - we are only human.

Communication: the imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium.

How can you become a better communicator?

There are many levels and angles in communication, but again for simplicity sake, let's break it down like this:

1. Imparting and exchanging information - Imparting means making information known and exchange means an act of giving one thing and receiving another (especially of the same kind) in return. Here we need to ask ourselves the following questions: A) What is the information I want to impart or exchange? B) Who do I want to impart or exchange the information with? Are they the most appropriate to receive it? C) When is the most suitable time to impart/exchange this information? D) Where is the best place to impart or exchange this information? In a meeting? One-on-one? On a Social Media platform? E) Why am I imparting or exchanging this information? F) What am I hoping for when imparting/exchanging this information? What is the result?
2. By speaking, writing or using another medium - This here is crucial, because if your information is subjective, then you've entered the arena of risk and resistance. When communicating, it's best to be factual versus opinion-driven. For example, saying "Based on studies from 2020 at XYZ hospital, most women under the age of 40 prefer drinking coffee because they face less health issues". Whereas, if you make statements like, "Drinking coffee is not preferred by younger females because it results in health issues". The more factual you are the better. Now, which communication channel is best also depends on the information being exchanged or imparted. If it's feedback, give it verbally then write a follow-up email. If it is reporting incidents, write the email. It's quite simple when you become granular in your approach and strategy.

Influence: the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.

How can we influence others?

When you are in a position to have an effect on the character, development or behavior of another, you need to STOP-THINK-ACT.

1. STOP - Yes, you need to take a breath and acknowledge your level of power at this time. You need to question whether you are the most suitable person to influence. You need to understand what you are influencing others on. Will what you are influencing others on going to have a negative or positive impact on them and on the collective party?
2. THINK - What is the message I want to say to influence? What is the way? Who are the people that I want to collaborate with to make a stronger impact? How will this assist and facilitate the collective power?
3. ACT - After you have done the above, you may ACT. Merely, acting without doing the above labor work is not fruitful.

Learning Agility: a combination of skills that enables a person to learn, relearn and adapt to changing situations easily. Learning agility consists of both the ability and the attitude to learn. Learning agility is critical for a future-ready workforce that can adapt to changing work environment.

How can you be an agile learner?

Firstly, accept and acknowledge learning and continuous self-growth. Many say they want to learn and enjoy doing so, but in reality, many do not want to put the effort to do so. This requires a mindset and attitude change. I always encourage professionals not to wait until their job or career is put on the line, because they are falling behind the changing times. Learn to change with change. It's difficult to come out of our comfort zones, but believe me, that's where true transformation occurs.

Secondly, assess what's available in the learning arena. Should you enhance your learning by attending conferences or networking or getting certified or going for a higher degree. I had to ask myself this question at 37 years old. I had moved back to the United States and I had no American work experience. I decided to invest in myself, in my personal brand; I went for a Masters of Science degree at the 美国南加州大学 in Human Resource Management. I cannot express how happy with that decision. I came out stronger and much more confident. It assured me that I could ask for my true value. It allowed me to learn things about myself that I didn't know before. It enhanced my intellectuality.

Thirdly, assess the ROI on your learning decision. So, for example, "If I spend $50,000 for a Masters degree, how will I return this investment in the next 3-5 years?" Once you take the time to do this little exercise, you will make more impactful and sounder decisions for yourself.

All the above revolves around being a heart-centered and daring leader. When you have mastered these four fundamental skills, you can finally become a Change Making Leader.