Tackling The Challenges Of Leadership

This article was originally posted on Forbes Coaches Council .

If you’re a leader committed to your own success and achievement, one who wants to make a contribution and a difference, you already know: It’s tough out there.

Based on my research with hundreds of senior-level leaders in Fortune 500 companies, leaders are really struggling right now.

? They’re not feeling engaged and valued.

? They’re feeling overwhelmed, depleted, exhausted and unappreciated.

? They’ve lost a sense of meaning and purpose.

? They feel very alone.

That’s just not sustainable or healthy or good for their joie de vivre and sense of well-being. It’s also a problem for organizations that rely on their top talent to be successful. If leaders are going to be successful, they’ll need to learn to lead at a higher level.

As an executive coach, it is my job to teach leaders the skills of personal leadership—in other words, to lead themselves to the kinds of success and achievement that are important to them, so they can in turn lead their companies into the future.

Practicing personal leadership gives leaders the opportunity to reconnect to the sense of motivation and well-being that keeps them at their best. They do that by being reflective, strategic and intentional.

The Reflective Leader

Reflection is one of the most essential skills of leadership. It is the process of slowing down and asking yourself critical questions, like:

? What’s working?

? What’s not working?

? What needs to change?

Those three simple questions are an easy starting point with reflection because they can be applied amid any challenge to find a way out.

If you’re struggling as a leader, ask yourself: What’s working for me now? What’s not working? What needs to change in order for me to feel confident and competent, empowered and powerful?

If you’re struggling with your team, ask yourself: What’s working on this team right now? What’s not working? What needs to change in order for us to have a supportive, effective culture in which everyone can thrive and deliver?

If you’re struggling with your company, ask yourself: What’s working in this environment right now? What’s not working? What needs to change in order to meet the goals and expectations we have while supporting and strengthening the leaders who make good things happen?

Taking the time to be reflective opens up all kinds of new possibilities, giving leaders the chance to move from challenges to change.

The Strategic Leader

Having reflected on the situation, strategic leaders ask another key question: Why?

? Why are we doing what we’re doing?

? Is what we’re doing getting us the results we want?

? And if not ... what would?

Getting into strategic alignment between what you’re doing, why you’re doing it and how to adjust for a better outcome is a path toward a more effective future.

The Intentional Leader

Simply being reflective and strategic is not quite enough to initiate change; leaders must also be intentional about following through. Based on the good thinking they have now done behind the scenes, they must take action. That means:

? Communicating clearly about the desired vision, goals and results.

? Supporting teams in understanding why they’re doing what they’re doing in the way they’re being asked to do it.

? Getting input on what everyone needs to achieve results.

? Being both empathetic and empowering in helping them get there.

? Providing the strategies and solutions that lead toward a successful outcome.

By being thoughtful and intentional in their approach, leaders can drive the way from breakdown to breakthrough. That creates sustainability for the long term, so they can look forward to an exciting future and look back at their work and their days with peace and pride.

Challenges In A Time Of Change

To be fair, if leaders haven’t led this way before, or if their organizations haven’t supported them in doing so, it’s understandable. The amount of change and upheaval in our organizations—and in our lives, and indeed the world—has been immense.

As much as companies may want their leaders to take ownership of their own success and achievement, many leaders simply don’t know how or don't feel they have the time and tools to do so. Nor do their companies always know how to support them in leading themselves.

Taking Charge

Personal leadership gives leaders the opportunity to effectively manage the challenges they face and take advantage of the opportunities before them.

By being reflective, they can get clarity on a vision for themselves, focus on that and take action in such a way that they and their teams feel valuable and valued. By being strategic, they make the most of their talents, teams and time. By being intentional, they give themselves the chance to learn what they need to learn, see the possibilities and get to that place where they feel like they have it all, all at once.

Then they will be able to achieve what they want to achieve and live the life they want to live. That’s the promise of personal leadership.

Read more of my leadership advice on Forbes Coaches Council.