Want to shift from Overwhelm to Spaciousness as Leader? 5 Strategies to help.
As leaders in today’s complex world, we often find ourselves caught in the whirlwind of responsibilities, deadlines, and high expectations. The relentless pace can lead to overwhelm, affecting our well-being and effectiveness. But fear not! In this blog, we’ll explore 5 practical strategies to navigate overwhelm by reflecting, connecting with and staying true to our leadership intention and values.
1. Reflect on Your Journey
Take a moment to sit back, maybe with a cup of your favourite brew, and reflect on your leadership journey. Think about the highs—the moments when you felt like you were surfing the wave of success—and the lows—the times when you wondered if you’d ever catch a break. Journal your thoughts. What lights you up? What drains your energy?
Reflect on your core values. Are they supporting you as a leader? Are your daily actions in sync with those principles? When overwhelm knocks on your door, pause and ask yourself, 'Does what I’m doing and how I’m doing it resonate with my values?' Sometimes, saying 'no' is the most powerful 'yes' you can give yourself.
For more on Values read: https://www.mojoforleaders.com/live-your-values-excel-as-leader/
2. Your North Star or Leadership Intention
Let’s talk North Star. Why does your organisation exist? As leader, what unique impact do you aim to create? What's your deepest intention as leader? Reconnect, or connect for the first time, with your North Star or Leadership Intention. For More on this read our blog: https://www.mojoforleaders.com/your-north-star-your-antidote-to-uncertainty/
Leading in integrity with your North Star can become a source of vitality, energy, and direction for you. When overwhelm threatens to engulf you, remind yourself of your personal North Star or intention as leader. Each task, each conversation, each decision, can be imbued with meaning and clarity when you integrate it with your Leadership Intention.
3. Self-Care: A Non-Negotiable
Prioritise your Physical Well-Being: Eat, Sleep, and Exercise. Remember, you’re not a productivity robot; you’re a human and your first responsibility is to take good care of your own body. Remember too, that playtime isn’t just for kids. Engage in hobbies that light you up. Doodle, write poetry, dance, listen to music, make music, exercise, play sport … Creativity fuels problem-solving and new perspectives and gives your brain a rest. Plus, it’s fun!
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4. Mental and Emotional Health
We love Ellen Langar’s approach to mindfulness – she says ‘mindfulness is ‘the simple process of actively noticing things, no meditation required.’ Be truly present to yourself, your environment and those around you asking yourself questions like 'What / Who is the same?', 'What / Who is different?', 'What is missing?',? 'What am I feeling?', 'What am I seeing from the ‘dance floor’?', 'What do I see from the ‘balcony’?' Read here for more on getting on the 'balcony' https://www.mojoforleaders.com/leaders-get-on-the-balcony-to-see-the-big-picture/
In this way, everything and everyone becomes more interesting and imbued with possibility and insight - and patterns and possibilities become visible. When we observe in this way, the racing mind calms, the fight, flight, freeze response dissolves, and overwhelm can give way to clarity.
5. Reach out for Support
Most importantly, seek support when the weight of the world seems on your shoulders. Talk to someone in your trusted network. Consider therapy?if you want to heal or get help with a mental health concern, and try Executive Coaching if you need help getting “unstuck” so that you can realise your full potential as leader.
Talking to a mentor or coach isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a power move.? In our Executive Coaching and Leadership Programmes, we create that confidential safe space where you can reflect on your journey, discover new perspectives, explore your values and discern your leadership intention. We can help you cut through overwhelm, connecting at a head, heart and gut level with what’s truly important to you, achieving clarity on your pathway forward.
If you are experiencing overwhelm and if you sense there's new levels of thinking you can explore, if you desire to elevate your leadership and magnify your impact, and soar, then we invite you to reach out to us at [email protected] anddiscover how our Elevate coaching
or our SOAR Leadership Programme
can empower and support you as you embark on a journey of growth, fulfilment, and transformation. We’ll be delighted to help you.
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