Today, Tuesday 8th March 2016 is International Women’s Day. As women we are leaders. Whether it be a leader in business, the community, politics or the leaders of our family or simply just ourselves. No matter how or who you lead, it is important that we lead with intent and with purpose.
So, how do we do that? First, we must know ourselves really well. We must be clear on what we value and what we stand for and ultimately what is important to us. Only once we intimately know ourselves can we begin to get to know others.
Once we have that understanding that not everyone thinks how we think or behaves how we behave, can be begin to understand. Only then, can we really lead with intent. Only once we have an understanding of what drives us, can we comprehend that it is not that same thing that drives those around us.
Only then, can we lead with intent and with purpose. Bringing those in our ‘team’ together. Leading them and guiding them with their needs in mind and playing to everyone’s strengths.
Let’s take a look at an example. Anyone who has dealt with a three year old will understand where I am coming from. Your need, your priority is it get out the door to playgroup. But for the three year old it is not a priority to them. They can’t understand why you are trying to pull them away from playing blocks (their immediate priority). You can explain and yell and rant at that three year old until you are blue in the face, but they will never understand your point of view. Yet, this is exactly how we approach many of our adult interactions, with only our priorities and needs in mind. To the other person it is as foreign a concept as it would be to a three year old.
So, I challenge you to ask yourself this ‘How can I lead with intent and purpose?’.