Are you confident in what you stand for as a leader? Can you inspire people to achieve extraordinary results? Smarts and business results are part of the package when it comes to thriving professionally and personally. But to move forward in leading profound and permanent change, and to navigate the complexities of modern life, we need to strengthen and develop our personal leadership.
Personal leadership is about cultivating a strong 'inside' before you turn the focus outside. It involves crafting an identity which feels real and authentic (and sometimes entirely new). It opens a path of exploration, an opportunity to act on new possibilities, and a bridge between where you are and where you aspire to be. Personal leadership is a state of mind and heart. It requires a commitment to deepen your personal and professional capacities that allow you to reach your fullest potential.
Our work is informed by a range of disciplines, including: leadership research, psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience. We use a mix of one-on-one sessions, action plans and between-session support to facilitate learning and deliver measurable results. Through working with us our clients report that they are:
Armed with a more meaningful definition of what constitutes success;
Cognizant of the essential skills required to lead an authentic, fulfilling life;
More capable of effectively leading others, resulting in better performing teams and organizations.
The journey begins with the will to challenge yourself:
Are you the author of your story?
Experience shows that we are often guided by what we believe ourselves capable of doing, rather than by what we truly wish to achieve. We make decisions based on intellect, and on an externally defined perception of 'success' (power, status, wealth), rather than on inspiration and what matters most to us most internally.
Understand the story of your life and your interpersonal history. Begin to make sense of repeating patterns and themes in your life. Discover your motivations - both extrinsic and intrinsic - and set goals that are not only specific and challenging, but which also reflect your deepest personal values and convictions.
Do you know yourself?
Many talented people stumble as they are unaware of their blind spots. Evidence points towards effective leaders being those who work hard at developing self-awareness, allowing them to overcome personal blockages and learn from both success and failure.
Through persistent and courageous self-exploration, you can develop an understanding of what makes you tick. Discover and play to your strengths to build crucial skills and momentum in a variety of dimensions of leadership. Learn to mitigate - not focus on - your weaknesses, ensuring that they don't get in the way of your aspirations in work and in life.
Do you know how to steer your emotions most effectively?
Intellectual insight does not equal emotional insight. Emotions influence many of our actions; they can energize or they can deflate. Emotional intelligence plays a central role in shaping who we are and what we do.
Explore and learn to leverage the full range of emotions you experience. Understand the contagion of emotions, and manage their impact. Create momentum and frequency around when you are at your best.
How well do you manage adversity?
It is easy to thrive when things are going well. Yet, setbacks, obstacles and pressures are a fact of life. What's more, the journey of personal leadership and the pursuit of transformation and growth often involve stepping out of our comfort zone and taking risks.
Respond to adversity by rising to the occasion and reframe obstacles as exciting challenges and opportunities. Stop the downward spiral that often follows failure through learning to question and discard unrealistic beliefs and artificial constraints. Harness crisis: it can be a crucible of character and an engine for personal growth. Practice optimism, hope, and self-efficacy as part of your capabilities as an individual, and as a leader.
Do you make other people matter?
We come alive in places that we are a part of, where we find meaningful and trusting relationships. Possessing interpersonal competencies and being attuned to the needs and expectations of those around you instills trust and breeds excellence.
Chart more sophisticated ways to behave and communicate, to learn new behaviors or to unlearn entrenched old ones. Understand how to create shared meaning and build a network that serves as a source of inspiration and support.
What is your personal legacy?
There are endless opportunities to create profit with purpose. Perpetuating our principles - and making a difference in the lives of the people we lead - leads to leadership with impact.
Get ready to play the BIG game of your life. Strive to be part of something larger than yourself, and to lead a full, integrated and holistic life. Make an impact, and notice how new neural pathways emerge which amplify your well-being (and the well-being of those around you), success and personal fulfillment.
learn more about our change process
