The most important strategic requirement for Leaders in 2023 is …

An ellipsis is a thought pause or line break to make a reader think. It provides space. This is what is needed if you as a leader and your teams want to be successful in 2023.

The past few years have been tough, and the world seems to want to catch their breath. We all need an ellipsis over the Festive Season to tackle 2023 with restored energy and new perspectives.

Here are my four Rs for Leaders to guide your teams through the stages of true REST:

1.?????Recognise

Listen to your own mental and physical behaviours at this time of the year. How are you feeling? How resilient are you now? Would you take on a new work project at this point? Most of us just won’t have the energy! Whether it’s the end of a year, or any time during a new year, listen to your mind and body and be guided by your energy levels. Look for cues from your team to gauge where they are at. Recognise whether and when you and your team need to stop and take a breath.

In his book, 13 Lessons that saved 13 Lives, John Volanthen talks about the importance of decompression for divers to avoid the bends. He urges himself to always listen to the little warning voice in his head and to turn around/go back up when he still has some air in the tank. He is acutely aware of tell-tale signs of fatigue like discomfort in his back, a tight jaw, aches and pains, or when his mind tries to override those. He says pushing beyond breaking point is dangerous and prevents rational decision making when needed. One has to stop long before that breaking point.

2.?????Relax

Once you’ve followed the wisdom to stop, you have to get yourself to relax. I use the term ‘mindlessness’ to describe this period of Rest. It means ‘doing nothing’. It means to not think much. Not keep much track of time. To just sit or sleep or be. No media, if you can, or if you do use any media, engage in low level, superficial entertainment. Switch off. Don’t plan anything and don’t try to catch up on stuff you haven’t had time to do. Just do nothing. I bet this will be hard for most!

When I've reached a summit after a long, hard climb, I usually sit at the top, slow down my heart rate, quiet my breath, and take in the beauty.

The reason for finding time in nothingness is that it creates space. We need space to take deep breaths, fill our lungs with life-giving oxygen and allow our minds to listen. Just observe. Just be. Mind minimalism. That is when we truly relax in every sense.

It is important to build relaxing activities into work environments – whether it is working from home or in an office space. Urge your team to take walks, go for coffee or lunch together, or do yoga or breath work.

3.?????Reflect

Now you can start thinking - think about where you are at, where you want to go, and why you are in the present state you are in. It's like sitting at the top of the mountain in wonderment of how far you have come. You should now consider what you can take from your past experiences – achievements, successes, or things that didn’t work out well.

When you use this opportunity to reflect you can see the bigger picture of your and your team's work. You can take stock. This space provides you with time to consider your values, strengths, goals, and dreams.

It’s a valuable moment in time where you can turn negative experiences into learnings, and truly celebrate positive events and successes. Finding ways for your team to reflect and celebrate helps them feel valued and reminds them that they matter.

Reflection is such a wonderful way to relive and savour the goodness of what you have achieved – an important part of wellbeing and happiness.

4.?????Recharge

This stage of rest is meant to be a period for you to recover and re-energise so that you can ready yourself for the effort you will need to implement your learnings and take on the challenges of what is to come.

At this stage of Rest it could be a good idea to take up some creative activity that will help awaken the ability to generate new ideas and thoughts. Music, art, hobbies, or vigorous activity now become tools to prepare your body and mind for action.

This is a time for being aware of healthy habits like sleep, nutrition, exercise and meditation.

At this stage you will find you get inspiration for new perspectives, and because you have invested in yourself, you will have the ability to turn your focus on your team and on other important relationships. You will be able to be more empathetic and you can now help others grow and succeed.

In your time of REST get rid of the guilt that 'doing nothing' brings to active and busy minds. You owe it to yourself so that you can be more resilient in 2023. You owe it to your teams.

This is your time. This is your time to REST. Your time to take a slow, deep, long breath. Your time to …

Connect with me if you want support for you and your team to take on 2023 with courage and resilience.

https://trimyoursails.com/