Leadership Reflections: Lessons Learned from a Week Away

Leadership Reflections: Lessons Learned from a Week Away by: Oscar A. Rodriguez

As leaders, we often push ourselves to the brink, wearing our work ethic as a badge of honor. However, burnout is real, and acknowledging its presence can be a critical turning point in one’s leadership journey. Recently, I decided to take a week away in Hawaii with my family, seeking rest and reflection. Amidst the beautiful beaches and unforgettable moments with my wife and kids, I found the opportunity to reset, recalibrate, and take time to practice gratefulness each morning.

It’s during these quieter moments that my mind wandered back to work, particularly to how I could continue to grow as a leader. For many of us, especially those who are driven and competitive by nature, the desire to succeed can be both a strength and a challenge. The phrase “what got you here won’t get you there” echoed in my thoughts. At first, I didn’t fully grasp why it resonated so strongly, but after a few more days of reflection and reading, it became clear: to grow as a leader, you must evolve. The leadership style that brought you success initially may not be what’s required to lead an entire organization to sustained success.

I realized that my peers and I share a common trait—we’re all overachievers. Yet, those who excel at leading larger teams or organizations have made a crucial shift. They’ve moved beyond being the “go-to” person and have intentionally evolved their leadership styles. Trust, delegation, and influence have become central to their approach, and those elements have paved the way for their success.

With this newfound clarity, I identified a few areas where I needed to adjust my own leadership approach:

?1. Refine the Strategic Vision: As a leader, it’s not just about having a vision but ensuring everyone is involved and aligned with that vision. True strategic leadership invites collaboration and inclusivity.

2. Feedback as a Gift: Feedback can often be wrapped in self-serving motives, but there is always value in it if you sift through the noise. Leaders must be discerning yet open to feedback, focusing on the core truth it offers.

3. Revisit and Realign Strategy: A vision isn’t a one-and-done effort. Revisiting the strategy regularly with partners and team members ensures alignment and creates space for collective ownership of the goals.

4. Data-Driven Decisions: While experience and gut feelings are valuable, data is essential for making informed decisions. It provides the confidence to act decisively and ensures that the direction you’re moving in is grounded in measurable realities.

Finally, the importance of influence became clear to me. Leadership is about more than executing strategies; it’s about inspiring others to buy into those strategies. Rather than racing ahead with numerous initiatives, I learned the power of focus. By narrowing down my priorities and being laser-focused on what truly matters, I found that I could actually move faster and achieve more.

This time away taught me that leadership is a constant evolution, and self-reflection is vital for growth. By fine-tuning my vision, embracing feedback, and using data to drive decisions, I can better serve those I lead. Ultimately, leadership is not about doing more, but about doing better—and sometimes, that means taking a step back to move forward.

Let's keep moving forward!

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