Hello, dedicated leaders and welcome back to our weekly journey through the world of leadership!
This week, we embark on a further exploration of the 6 M's Framework, shining a spotlight on the pivotal first "M" - Managing Self. In particular, in this blog, we delve into the critical aspect of showcasing expertise in your domain as a leader, a skill that can truly set you apart in the ever-evolving landscape of leadership.
Understanding the 6 M's Framework
The 6 M's Framework serves as a compass for leaders, guiding them through the multifaceted aspects of effective leadership.
The 6 M’s Framework includes your different roles and what you will actually be doing in those roles. As a leader, you will need to tackle each of these roles:
- Managing Self (as SME)
- Managing Individuals (as Coach)
- Managing the Work (as Manager)
- Managing the Comms (as Change Agent)
- Managing the Teams (as Motivator)
- Managing Public Opinion (as Ambassador)
Managing Self, is the first "M," which emphasizes the importance of integrity, leadership presence, self-awareness & regulation, and finally showcasing expertise in your chosen domain, or field and as a manager if you manage others.
Understanding Expertise
At its essence, expertise is the culmination of knowledge, experience, and skills in a particular field. It's the proficiency that sets individuals apart as authorities in their domain. For leaders, possessing expertise goes beyond a mere qualification; it's about demonstrating a profound understanding that inspires confidence, performance and fosters growth.
Expertise in Domain: A Cornerstone of Leadership
Leadership is not just about guiding a team; you might, or might not have a team. It's also about possessing a deep understanding of the industry, market trends, and the nuances of your specific domain, or business. To effectively lead, you must be an expert in your chosen field, staying ahead of the curve and inspiring confidence through your knowledge. So how does one do that?
Stay Informed: Continuous learning is the key to staying ahead. Dedicate time each week to stay updated on industry trends, technological advancements, and relevant research. Read industry publications, attend conferences, and engage in professional development to sharpen your skills. Talk to others in your chosen field by networking and sharing information. Do market and customer analysis if appropriate and stay across the problems and opportunities identified. Your strategies should be built off those. Read publications from the CSIRO, CIA Factbook, INSEAD and many other sources to stay across community megatrends, demographics and business research so that you can leverage them in your work or in your business.
Build a Network or get a Mentor: Surround yourself with experts and thought leaders in your domain. Actively seek out mentorship opportunities and engage in conversations that challenge your perspectives. Step out of your own perception; that is a trap. Take purposeful steps to grow your network. Take steps to get close to and learn from select individuals & mentors that are already where you want to be. You can consider this part of your "reference group" and the premise of a reference group is that you are only as good as, or will succeed to the level of, your reference group. So the top 5 people you interact with regularly, dictates the success you will achieve. A strong network not only broadens your knowledge but also provides valuable insights and support. A strong reference group actually will determine your level of success. If you are the smartest person in the group, you need to change groups and find one that challenges you. This does not mean ditch your friends, but in business or career, take the time to cultivate a reference group that is aligned with your vision of where you want to be.
Specialize: Choose a domain to specialise in. Be deliberate about this. If you are a business owner, then it becomes a little easier as your business is your specialty. Although there will always be new things you will have to learn and wrangle with. As the business grows and you employ others, then those others will bring specialisation into the business. If you are in a career, such as product management, which is often a generalist role, then start to specialise in a domain, e.g., international, AI, data, VR, authentication, databases, etc. That specialisation will serve you in the long run and will only enhance your product management skills by adding expertise to your repertoire, which is another lever of influence you can now lean into; esp if you have not authority due to hierarchy in the organisation. If you are in a leadership position that is also a management position, consider that the skills of management are a specialised field in and of themselves, that you want to take a deeper dive on. You can't be doing more of what you were doing as an individual contributor, but longer and harder. That my friend is micro management and no one enjoys that if they are well into their careers. Only appropriate use is when you have a new staff member and they need training into the organisational systems, or they are beginning their careers. No, instead you have to learn all the other roles I mentioned above, to be able to manager others well. It is not an easy job, but it is a satisfying job if done well.
Hands-On Experience: Apply your knowledge in practical settings at work or in your business. Gather data to see if it was actually successful or not, lean into testing and validation to ensure you are gathering data. Real-world experience enhances your expertise by providing context and depth to your theoretical understanding. Don't shy away from challenges; embrace them as opportunities to grow.
Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation: The Foundation of Expertise
I go back to last weeks blog where I talk about self awareness & regulation. To showcase expertise effectively, you must first master the art of managing yourself through self-awareness and practicing self-regulation.
Self-Awareness: Understand your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Regularly reflect on your experiences and seek feedback from peers to gain insights into your leadership style. A self-aware leader is better equipped to leverage their strengths and address areas that may require growth. Lean into gathering many perspectives rather than relying on your own perception; this will mean you have a more robust worldview, decision, solution, outcome, etc if you do. It doesn't matter if you are doing a vision, strategy and roadmap, OR if you are writing a business plan, or launching into a new market. The more diversity of thought, the more robust the outcome.
Self-Regulation: Emotions are an integral part of leadership, but regulating them is crucial. A leader who can manage their emotions effectively remains composed under pressure, making well-informed decisions. Develop strategies, such as mindfulness practices or breathing exercises, to enhance your self-regulation skills.
By doing this, you will be able to build strong relationships with others, that you can then leverage and rely on when you need to. Relationship building in business and career are important and you need to deliberately cultivate these for success. Plan them into your calendar and focus on building the relationship through simple human connection, find out about their passions, family, day to day and connect on those lines, then you can connect on the lines of business or visa versa.
Bringing it Together: Expertise in Action
Now, when your bring expertise in your domain, coupled with self-awareness and self-regulation, it allows you, as a leader to be able to:
- Lean into Informed Decision-Making: Your deep understanding of the domain enables you to make informed decisions based on a comprehensive analysis of the situation.
- Inspire Confidence: Team members are more likely to trust and follow a leader who demonstrates a strong grasp of the domain. Your expertise fosters confidence and instills a sense of security among your team.
- Build Adaptability: The fast-paced nature of many industries demands leaders who can adapt quickly. Your expertise allows you to navigate change with confidence and guide your team through uncertainty.
- Innovation and Adaptability: A leader's expertise lays the foundation for innovation and adaptability. In a rapidly changing landscape, leaders equipped with deep knowledge can steer their teams through uncertainties and guide them toward new horizons.
Continuous Growth and Leadership Excellence
As you embark on this journey of mastering leadership, remember that showcasing expertise is a continuous process of growth and refinement. Stay curious, embrace challenges, and view setbacks as opportunities for learning. Join me next week as we explore the second "M" of the 6 M's Framework: Managing Others. Until then, lead with expertise, self-awareness, and an unwavering commitment to your personal and professional development.
In the dynamic landscape of business, where challenges and opportunities intermingle, the role of a conscious transformational leader becomes paramount. This week, let's delve into the cornerstone of conscious transformational leadership – Integrity. Beyond being a buzzword, integrity forms the bedrock of a leader's credibility, trustworthiness, and the ability to inspire profound change. As we navigate the intricacies of modern leadership, let's uncover the significance of integrity and how it intertwines with the fabric of conscious leadership.
WHAT IS INTEGRITY
When you look at the etymology of the word integrity you will see a few definitions. One is that it has the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, another is the state of being whole and undivided, unified or being sound, in other words, being whole and complete. Our being and energy flow easily, if there is nothing blocking you from being whole and complete. What do I mean by that, well, for example, when you have broken a promise to someone, you tend to ruminate over it in your brain and you often feel guilty about it. That thinking, might take 10% of your total thoughts away from your focus. You are now not whole and complete. You often then avoid that person for awhile, until enough time passes so that you can push it under the table, so to speak. Another example is when you let yourself down, for example, if you wanted to start exercising on the Monday, but you didn't, you let yourself off the hook, and now you will feel bad and often will make yourself wrong for this. This is what broken promises leave you with; the feeling of not being whole and complete.
In coaching, we use something called energy leadership; there are two different types of energy that we see exhibited in leadership. Conscious leaders exhibit the higher levels of what we call Anabolic Energy; which, when you are around it it lifts you, it motivates, energises and inspires you. When you break promises and commitments, your energy shifts into Catabolic Energy, which shuts you down, depresses you or takes your energy away. Broken promises are like that, they will shift you into Catabolic Energy, so you will feel down. Other things that will push you into Catabolic Energy are truths that you don't speak out loud to the other person or to yourself, responsibilities that you either take on and they are not yours, or responsibilities you have but push off and lastly feelings you either don't want to feel and push off or suppress. All of these will push you into the Catabolic Energy state. The game you need to start playing with yourself is to build awareness around these two types of leadership energy for yourself. Practice becoming aware of that shift in energy and what lies at the root of that; is it broken promises, is it not taking responsibility, is it not allowing the feelings to be felt, or is it not speaking your truth?
So let's define Integrity and look into what the 4 levels include. Being honest and keeping your promises & commitments are definitely the first level, but it is much more than that:
Level 1: Keeping your promises.
Level 2: Keeping your promises and honouring your word. In other words, giving the words you speak 'honour'. Being present to what you say, choosing carefully, being clear (what, where, when) and then committing from there. If you break your promise, as often, life happens, then you clean up by taking responsibility and being authentic about what happened, and if you can re-establish a new commitment. That is HONOURING your word; it goes further than just keeping your promises.
Level 3: Honouring your word, plus living a life in alignment with a set of values.
Level 4: Honouring your word, having a set of values you live by and your actions and words are all in alignment with those values, working towards a vision, purpose or goal.
If you choose to live your life from Level 4 Integrity, that is a powerful life, manifestations happen easily hear because your word actually has power. You do what you say, when you say, how you know it should be done and nothing stops you. It comes with taking radical responsibility, feeling your feelings, keeping your word impeccable & speaking your truth. You become unstoppable. Extraordinary things start to happen and you begin to the see the magic, the serendipity in life and in leadership. Conscious leaders know when they are in integrity and when they are out of integrity, because that magic starts to diminish.
The Essence of Integrity in Leadership:
1. Transparency as a Guiding Light: Conscious leaders are transparent, a quality that stems from unwavering integrity. Transparent leaders embrace openness, providing their teams with a clear view of decisions, motives, and organizational directions. By aligning actions with values, they foster a culture of honesty that builds trust, laying the groundwork for sustainable success.
2. Authenticity Breeds Trust: Conscious leaders understand the profound impact of authenticity on trust-building. Upholding integrity means embracing authenticity – being true to oneself and one's values. Authentic leaders inspire trust by showcasing vulnerability, acknowledging mistakes, and remaining steadfast in their commitment to ethical principles.
3. Making Ethical Decisions: Conscious leaders face a multitude of decisions. Integrity becomes their North Star, guiding them through ethical dilemmas. Whether navigating complex negotiations, implementing organizational changes, or fostering diversity and inclusion, leaders with integrity make decisions rooted in ethical principles.
4. Energy Leadership: Conscious leaders are aware of their energy shifts and they practice integrity to stay in Anabolic Energy. They notice the shift into Catabolic Energy and when they feel that, they look for the root cause; broken word, lack of responsibility, not saying what needs to be said and not feeling what needs to be felt. Then they deal with that!
Nurturing Integrity in Your Leadership:
1. Define Your Core Values: Cultivate self-awareness to identify and articulate your core values. These values serve as the compass directing your decisions and actions. Clearly defined values create a foundation for conscious leadership anchored in integrity.
2. Lead by Example: Your actions speak louder than words. Demonstrate the values you espouse through consistent actions. By embodying integrity in your everyday conduct, you set the standard for your team, fostering a culture where ethical behavior is the norm. Clean up when you break your word.
3. Embrace Accountability: Conscious leaders acknowledge their mistakes and learn from them. They take radical responsibility. Cultivate a culture of accountability within your team, encouraging open communication about challenges and fostering an environment where learning and growth are celebrated.
4. Foster a Culture of Trust: Prioritize trust-building within your organization. Actively seek and value input from your team, fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed. A culture of trust propels collaboration, innovation, and sustained success.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Integrity
In the tapestry of conscious leadership, integrity weaves a narrative of trust, authenticity, and ethical decision-making. As you navigate the complex currents of business, let integrity be the lodestar guiding your leadership journey. Notice your energy shifts and then identify the root cause. Nurture a culture where transparency, authenticity, and ethical choices prevail. By embodying the pillars of conscious leadership, you not only inspire your team but also leave a lasting legacy of integrity in the ever-evolving landscape of business leadership.
#ConsciousLeadership #IntegrityInBusiness #LeadershipJourney
As we embrace the spirit of Easter, a season synonymous with rebirth and the promise of new beginnings, our blog this week takes us into the realms of leadership, coaching, and the profound impact we can have on others by being of service to them as a leader. In the glow of this season, let's explore the delicate dance between coaching and managing, unlocking the potential within our teams and aligning with my second rule of leadership: "It's not about you, it's about OTHERS!"
Coaching vs. Managing: A Leadership Dance
Coaching is a transformative and collaborative process designed to unlock an individual's potential and facilitate their journey towards personal and professional growth. Rooted in active listening, strategic open questioning, and constructive feedback, coaching empowers individuals to explore their aspirations, overcome obstacles, and set meaningful goals. Unlike traditional forms of management, coaching focuses on drawing out solutions from within the coachee, rather than the manager telling them the answer or how to do it. This fosters self-discovery, empowerment and accountability. It is a dynamic relationship built on trust and mutual respect, where the coach acts as a guide, catalyst, and motivator, guiding individuals toward their desired outcomes. Through a series of purposeful conversations and goal-setting, coaching creates a supportive environment that propels individuals to leverage their strengths, navigate challenges, and achieve sustainable success in various facets of life.
1. Managing: A Guiding Hand
- Managers focus on tasks, processes, and ensuring that things run smoothly.
- It's akin to tending to the garden, ensuring each flower receives the right amount of water and sunlight.
2. Coaching: Nurturing Potential
- Coaches delve into the individual growth of team members, fostering their unique potential.
- Picture a gardener, cultivating an environment where each seedling has the opportunity to flourish.
The Second Rule of Leadership: It's about OTHERS!
In the spirit of Easter, we reflect on the significance of selflessness and the beauty of supporting others on their journey. The second rule of leadership encapsulates this sentiment – it's not about you; it's about OTHERS! Being of service to others, contributing to their growth, listening to their inner world and needs, has you become a better leader, that builds a culture that is experienced as psychologically safe, thereby enabling others to be their best, most authentic selves.
1. Lighting the Path:
- Easter signifies a time of illumination, a beacon of hope and light at the end of the tunnel.
- As leaders, we play a pivotal role in being that guiding light for our team members, helping them navigate their paths, grow and give their best
2. Unleashing Potential:
- Coaching becomes the instrument through which we unlock the potential within each team member.
- Just as Easter marks a season of rebirth, coaching empowers individuals to shed old limitations and step into their full potential.
3. The Joy of Nurturing:
- Similar to the joy of watching flowers bloom, there's immense satisfaction in witnessing the growth and success of those we coach.
- The second rule of leadership flourishes as we dedicate ourselves to the growth and well-being of others.
- Taking the focus off ourselves and placing it on others, opens the door to our own happiness and satisfaction.
Steps to Coaching Excellence: Illuminating the Journey
1. Active Listening:
- Tune into the aspirations and challenges of your team, along with each individuals inner life
- Provide a safe space for them to express their goals and concerns.
- Use your 1/1's to do this.
2. Empowerment Through Feedback:
- Feedback is a gift, you should always offer both kudos and constructive feedback. Individuals growth accelerates with feedback.
- Offer constructive feedback that empowers rather than discourages. Learn how to do it well
- Illuminate areas for improvement as stepping stones toward their vision. You need to understand their vision first.
3. Vision-Centric Coaching:
- Align coaching conversations with the individuals overarching vision.
- Help individuals see the light at the end of the tunnel as they take steps toward their goals.
- Use SMART goals and accountability structures to keep them on that path towards their vision
4. Celebrate Growth:
- In the spirit of Easter joy, celebrate the growth and achievements of your team, business or life with others
- Create a culture that embraces milestones and recognizes individual successes.
Conclusion: A Season of Growth and Light
As Easter whispers tales of renewal, let us, as leaders, embrace the art of coaching – an act of selflessness and support that aligns seamlessly with the second rule: "It's not about you, it's about OTHERS!" Like a gardener cultivating a vibrant garden, let us nurture the potential within our teams, within our business and within our lives, illuminating the path to success and growth. In this season of rebirth, may our coaching efforts become the light that guides each team member toward the brilliance of their envisioned future.
Happy Easter!
Reach out to me directly if you want some coaching on this for you, your life, career, business or family. I am a licensed coach with 20+ years experience in leadership, in New York, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, London & Sydney.
Visit Transformative Visions Website to purchase and book coaching: [www.transformativevisions.com
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