Leaders Drive Purpose
What a year it has been! December is here with all of its magnificent holiday bustle. While this season is fun for so many reasons, I LOVE the emphasis on purpose and intention. For me, this time of year is the perfect opportunity to reset, align and visualize my true north. Tapping into my love for running, I like to think of it not as the ending of the race, but the long-awaited checkpoint to breathe and refocus. Here are some of my tips of encouragement to help you do just that!
Intend to be Intentional
As leaders and as individuals, we need to ask ourselves: What are we are knocking out of the park? What can we trim back on so we can focus on where we thrive? For example, I’ve noticed a trend towards menu condensing in the restaurant industry. This is a fantastic way of saying to customers, “We want to serve you our specialty.” How can we take this momentum to every industry? What is YOUR specialty?
There are so many incredible people I know who are making monumental strides in leadership with these themes in mind. Several of those rockstars were recently recognized during the 2021 CEO of the Year Awards. If you haven’t already, invest the time to listen to their visions and how they’re staying on path. I promise, it’s some incredible inspiration for the year ahead!
Ready, Set, Re-Align!
Along with helping our employees develop, leaders are also responsible for making sure our organization is making strides in its own marathon. Our employees are the individual runners, and the organization is the entire race. Everyone is moving forward, but we’re all running together with the same goal on the horizon. Leaders are the ones who define that vision, establish where the mile markers will be, and are there to cheer everyone along the entire way.
As you dedicate time toward 2022 goal setting, it’s incredibly important to remember that your mental health, wellbeing, and family life are, and will continue to be, the top priority. Now more than ever, our society has reached a consensus that it is no longer work or family, rest or success. It is harmony between both. You cannot run the race if you are struggling physically, mentally, or spiritually. It’s a sign of true strength to ask your circle for support when you need to take a breather. Feel empowered to speak up.
Just last week, I was feeling under the weather. There were a ton of items on my to-do list, but I knew that it was my responsibility to myself and to my team to pause, rest and recover. I serve as an example to my team on how our organization responds to uncontrollable circumstances in our personal lives. Pre-COVID, I think our entire society viewed ‘working when sick’ so much differently. What an incredible cultural shift that we cannot lose sight of in the future!
Leaders Set the Pace
My hope for the new year is that we can all get back on track with a lighter load, feeling a collective foundation of support and an emphasis on wellbeing now more than ever before. I encourage you not to view this season as an end, but a checkpoint to reassess and realign. I also challenge leaders to share your sentiments with your team. Let them know how you are approaching goal setting and be a resource to help them stay on track and keep moving ahead.
As the old saying goes, ‘It’s a marathon, not a sprint’. How can you reach the next mile marker in the year ahead?
Happy Holidays!