This last weekend I had the opportunity to present at America’s Future’s Managers Workshop. The event was geared towards young professionals who have just entered management and want to grow as leaders. I was asked to share about how to think strategically about your career growth while also juggling increasing management demands.
My session title was “5 Ways to be an Inspiring Leader While Growing Your Career.” I shared about the concept of conscious leadership and how it can transform managers, teams, and their organizations. The five concepts I shared are firmly rooted in conscious leaders.
For this newsletter, I thought I’d share a couple of the ways to be an inspiring, conscious leader while developing your career.
#1: Prioritize Becoming Aware of Your Strengths and Areas for Growth
This is such a vital practice for becoming a stronger leader and developing your career goals. How can you grow if you aren’t aware of your strengths and areas where you’d benefit from growing?
So how can you become more aware? First, take some assessments. I’m certified in the Energy Leadership Index, which measures the energy (attitudes, perspectives) we bring to life and work. It also has a 360 component so clients can see the impact they have on others. Assessments are an excellent way to take a snapshot of where you’re currently at, then retake them as you grow to observe your growth.
Personal reflection is another important way to be in tune with your strengths and areas for growth. How often do you quietly sit and reflect on what you enjoy or don’t enjoy doing, or compliments or constructive feedback you’ve received? Journaling about these thoughts and then writing out clear goals can help you track your progress.
#2: Be a Student and a Teacher
One of my favorite quotes is “Each person we meet is our student and our teacher.” It’s such an inspiring and humbling concept. No matter how successful you are, you can always learn from others. And as you grow, you will have things to teach others.
It’s important to embrace the student mindset and listen to your team, and then elevate team members to be teachers as well. Balancing humility with confidence empowers you as a conscious leader.
Embracing the student mindset is also helpful when dealing with a difficult or egotistical colleague. The student/teacher mindset can shift a challenging relationship from tension to genuine empathy and learning.
If you’d like to learn more about the other three ways to be a conscious, inspiring leader while growing your career, send me a note. The feedback I received from the workshop participants was truly encouraging as they all deeply resonated with the concept of conscious leadership and practicing the student/teacher mindset.
Work happy. Live happy. BE happy.
Meredith
The way we work and build teams is rapidly changing. Leaders often feel unprepared to navigate the transition. As a conscious leadership coach, consultant and communicator, Meredith helps leaders and their teams create new ways of working and relating so they can prepare for the future by consciously co-creating it.
Contact her to develop your conscious leadership and transform your organization into the workplace of the future.
You can support my work developing more conscious leadership in the world by investing in a paid subscription to this newsletter. Upgrade your subscription today!
Connect with Meredith on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for content related to these topics.