Strategic growth issues are often the result of the leader’s behavioral issues. By looking at the strategic problem exclusively, you might fix the immediate problem but it will reappear in different forms. By addressing the behavior of the leader, the strategic issues will eventually disappear as a direct consequence of improved leadership.
Because growth depends on having the courage to step outside of a comfort zone, people need to actively face their fears and press forward regardless. So your job as a leader is to further this movement by embodying it yourself, and encouraging your employees to take the risks that are necessary for creativity and growth. Making them afraid of venturing outside their comfort zone will undermine everything you’re trying to accomplish as a business leader.
It’s impossible to lead if you don’t take care of your own physical and mental health. Evaluate your needs as a human being - whether it’s how much sleep, or down time, or anything else you require - and self-review your habits to make sure you’re putting your basic needs first. If you don’t, you’re not only hurting yourself, but you’re also undermining your leadership capabilities.
Learn to ask for help - early, often, and continually. One of the scariest things for a leader to do is to admit they need help - but being able to ask for it is an essential characteristic of leadership. So get over the fear, find someone who cares about you and has experience that is relevant, and humbly ask them to help you figure out how to get through the challenge that you’re facing.
Successful communication depends upon your being aware of how you’re feeling. Before he communicates to his team, Marc asks himself if he’s mad, sad, glad, or afraid - and you should do something similar. If you communicate without realizing what emotion you’re projecting, you’ll undermine what you’re actually saying by sending the wrong underlying message.
