10 transformative lessons and shifts in my leadership journey

Leadership is a journey, a lifelong one.

Leadership is about making a positive impact, empowering others, fostering growth, connection, and collaboration in the organization, and making the world a better place.

Leadership is full of opportunities to discover ourselves and become our "authentic true selves" - our best version to lead, make a positive impact, and live from a powerful place of inner alignment.

All the challenges I met along the path so far, were meant to be "pivotal moments", "shifts", "awakening me", and "enabling me to step more and more into being the leader I am meant to be" and expand my impact.

How about yours?

In my first episode of Extraordinary Leadership Podcast, I shared the  10 lessons, and shifts, that shaped my leadership journey and changed the way I lead myself, my business, and others.

I'm excited to see what else is for me to discover in this long life journey.

 1. Take Ownership of Your Growth 💪🌱

Growth is your responsibility and no one will take it for you. Your behaviors and actions set the tone in the organization and create a triple effect. Your potential is unlimited and your success depends on unleashing it. Do not blame others for it and be a victim. Invest in yourself. Seek coaches, mentors, and programs that help you transform from within and be an impactful leader.

2. Seek Gifts in Every Challenge🎁

Challenges are opportunities in disguise and we need to make a conscious effort to see and create them, as our mind will focus on negative aspects by default.  One of my darkest moments led me to discover new paths and breakthroughs that shifted my leadership style to more empowering, collaborative, and authentic. Embrace difficulties as gifts to learn and create new opportunities actively.

3. Follow Your Heart, Passion, and Intuition

Trusting your intuition and passion can lead to profound changes. Leaving the corporate world for entrepreneurship was a significant, intuitive decision for me. Leaders like Jeff Bezos and Steve Jobs have also highlighted the importance of following your heart and intuition.

4. Create, connect, and embody your Vision🌟

Dream big and create a vision of who you want to be more of in alignment with your authentic self. Vision is a source and Anker of clarity and inspiration, guiding you along the journey to self-realization. A clear vision helps align your actions and transforms your leadership impact. Create it, make it tangible and step into being that version of you here and now from within. It will shift your reality, results and impact.

5. Manage Your Mind and Emotions🧠❤️

Understanding and managing your mind and emotions is crucial. Recognize and transform subconscious limiting beliefs, liberate yourself from emotional triggers, and blocks from the past that hold back you're stepping into your leadership potential and being an authentic leader. This will enhance your decision-making, trust-building, and overall leadership effectiveness and living your desired life. It is a cornerstone of your growth - the inner work, and the key contributor to your success.

6. Manage Your State of Being (your energy)🌟

Your state of being in the present moment influences your actions and impacts those around you. You emanate who you are inside in the moment to the outside world - it is your energy.  Depending on your state of being, you make a different impact and feel differently inside. Managing the inner state and energy vibrations is a game changer for your impact, unleashing positive culture, productivity, intuitive ideas, and inspiring others. Your key work is aligning within your energy and shifting to be in a desired state of being (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual).

7. Empower and Coach Your People🌱 🚀

Empowering is what I consider a fundamental role of a leader. It is an enabler of organizational success and performance. It is not about abdicating. It is about enabling and partnering with people to thrive, succeed in their roles, and grow. Among several key strategies, developing a coaching mindset & skills to empower your team is the most powerful. Asking powerful questions, active listening, and being present are essential. Coaching helps others grow, increases your employee's confidence, innovation, and ownership, and enhances their motivation.

8. Be Intentional in Developing Your Team 👥🤝

Invest time and resources in developing your team. It requires your conscious focus, as it is a journey and it requires you to navigate it. Focus on developing key levers of team performance: trust and psychological safety, alignment on shared purpose, vision, goals and culture, clarity and commitments of roles and expectations, effective communication and conflicts, and shared ownership & growth, leveraging on diversity. Hire a coach to help you plan and strategize this process as well as bring observations and insights fostering relationships.

9. Bring gratitude, empathy, and curiosity to your leadership🙏💗

Foster growth and development, BUT be grateful for where the team and members are now, and who you are now. Celebrate small wins, learnings, and achievements before moving to the next thing. Verbalize appreciation - people need that. Switch from expectations "They should..." with appreciation " I value you do this and ...". Show empathy and curiosity in their situation and feelings. 

10. Be the Change You Want to See🌍

Your organization reflects you. Lead by example. Role model the behaviors and values you want to see in your organization. Your actions set the standard for others. Invest in your growth and inspire your team to do the same.

Which of the above resonates with you and are your areas of growth?

Watch the full episode here.

Be Extraordinary!