What would you change if you had the chance to do so?
I am conducting a Master Mind group with some friends, using John Maxwell’s book, Everyone Communicates, Few Connect. We are diving deep into communication and it has me thinking about my role as a leader and the vision I have for improving my leadership skills. If I had the opportunity to restart my current leadership role, how could I do better? The importance of connecting with people is clearly shared in Maxwell’s book. If I could start over, I would get to know some of the people in my organization better. We could get more done if we share a connection and meet each other on common ground. I could communicate better with myself too. Improving my communication skills is one small area I’d like to do over. Then I started thinking about how I could change other aspects to become a better leader. This post is all about possible do-overs to improve ourselves.
Our first do-over, has to do with our mindset. We will experience difficult times and situations. Struggles come and go at various times in our lives, and we need to know how to handle them appropriately. We must show up daily, and meet the challenges that often frustrate us. Our mindset needs to strong and unwavering. Our mindset affects our attitude and often sets the tone for our day. It is important to take time, preferably in the morning before your day begins to set your mind right. Whatever technique you use to get in the right state of mind will benefit you tremendously.
The next do-over idea we could explore are the exchanges with our colleagues. John Maxwell often shares, our need to walk slowly through the crowd. If we truly value people, we want to have authentic exchanges with them. I often think of those moments when I pass by and ask individuals how they are doing but never slow down long enough to engage in a better conversation. We make better connections when we are authentic in greeting people or visiting with them. I understand we are all busy in our daily lives but take a breath, visit our friends, and engage in a positive manner. We must see the value our people bring to the organization.
Another do-over we must consider, is having more confidence in our abilities and gifts we bring to the table. We can share our voices and experiences that may help our team or organization. Too often, we never see our value and we speak ill of our abilities and experiences. It is very toxic to our confidence when we beat ourselves up. If we continue to see ourselves as less than others, we will never find our version of success.
The last do-over we need to look at is how we compare ourselves to others. My situation is not the same as yours or anyone else. Everyone has different ways of approaching situations or plan differently than you or I. Everyone comes with different experiences and not everyone is at the same level. We must embrace our path and go the direction we see as appropriate for our situation.
How is your mindset during difficult times or situations?
Are your interactions pouring value into others or damaging relationships?
What are your strengths and how are you using them?
Why do you compare yourself to others and is it helpful?
I would never change my situation because I believe that it was the experiences that grew me. It is fun to look back and ask ourselves the question; what would I change if I got to do this experience all over again? This is a form of reflection on experiences we have. I hope you take a moment to review a past experience or situations to determine how it could have been better or different. Thanks for checking in on this post and please leave a comment that will contribute to this conversation. Have a great week!
Steven C. Bucks- Leading Conversations
~Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member~
