Leadership Thoughts As We Start 2023

Welcome to The Elegant Leaders Newsletter! This monthly Newsletter is primarily to help Female Leaders show up better, lead more authentically and grow legacy leadership, among others, in their spheres of influence.

I received the news of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's resignation with a sense of sorrow and loss. Having served in the capacity of Prime Minister for almost six years, she made the decision to step aside as she felt she no longer had the energy to lead the people of New Zealand.

A few years ago, in an announcement that shocked the world, the late Pope Benedict XVI, made the decision to resign as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, citing his advanced age and health as the reason he would no longer be able to lead the 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide.

As I reflected on the life, journey and legacy of these two leaders, I want to share a few thoughts with you which may help you on your leadership journey.

"Leadership is lifting of a man's vision to higher sights". - Peter Drucker

Start with a VISION: every true leader has a vision of their preferred future. They have a vivid picture of an ideal future, can rally a troop around that picture and are able to maintain sustained energy to get to that future. As we start a New Year, what vision would you like to run with? What problem do you want to solve and why is it important to you? How will you sell your team on the vision that has caught your heart?

"First, say to yourself what you would be, and then do what you have to do". - Brendon Burchard

Stay true to yourself, your values and others: This is a BIG deal! You cannot be a chameleon that changes ever so slightly to blend into the environment. What do you stand for? What do you believe? Who are you at your core? What is important to you? What is not important to you? The more aligned you are externally to who you are at your core, the more authentic you become.

Strength of mind and body is necessary; Have a system for rest and renewal: If you do not take care of your mind, body and soul, you cannot go the distance! I know we've heard this particular one so many times that we're sick of it, but it is important! The higher you go as a leader, it becomes even more critical to be deliberate about a system for rest and renewal. To do this, you should establish healthy boundaries and stick to them. Honour your (not idolise!) your body - food, exercise and rest.

“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.” - Dolly Parton

Legacy Leadership is not just a buzzword: The best leaders raise other leaders! The best leaders identify the gifts and talents of others and help them grow and become their best versions. Whom can you raise on your journey? Who can you mentor, sponsor or gift with a word of advice? How deliberate are you about succession planning - not just for you, but for members of your team? Do you leave people better than when you met them? Leadership is beyond your "position" or "cadre". The best leaders understand they have personal power and lead irrespective of cadre.

Recognise when the journey is over and bow out gracefully: Power and influence can be intoxicating. Several leaders desperately hold on to "positional power", long after they should have let go or walked away. You are able to recognise when your journey in that area is over when you have a secure sense of self, identity and self-worth as well as clear parameters for when your work has been fulfilled or when you are honest about your weaknesses and your capacity to adequately fulfill what has been entrusted to you. That day will come for all of us one day, how are you preparing for it now?

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, and his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. —Lao Tzu

As we fully settle into the New Year, with the ongoing flurry of goal setting, individual performance plans and KPIs, I'd like to encourage you to set goals around the following parameters:

• Who do I want to BECOME at the end of 2023 and what KPIs will I use to measure that?
• What VISION do I want to achieve and which goals will bring me closer to that?
• Who do I want to GROW and IMPACT and how will I be deliberate about doing that?

I wish you a beautiful 2023 filled with many wins and many opportunities for personal and business success!

Cheers!