16 Insights for Lifelong Leadership For Life
Leadership is a life-long endeavor.
No matter your age, leadership is something that always improves as you improve.
Everything starts with you and you must embrace being a perpetual student of life.
As Gandhi says, “Live as if you’ll die tomorrow and learn as if you’ll live forever”.
There are two aspects of life-long leadership that you must remember:
- The principles of enlightened leadership work in life & business.
The core values of effective communication, active listening and emotional intelligence benefit you personally and professionally. Take radical responsibility for your emotions. There is no matter that can shake your core foundation unless you let it.
2. Be solution-finding instead of problem-solving.
In life there is always the potential for issues to arise. Therefore you should not think about avoiding issues, instead create a framework for solution-finding. This is a worthwhile habit to create because you will use it throughout your life. Each challenge is an opportunity to grow emotionally and spiritually.
It’s time for leaders to level up in every area of their life and open the door of possibilities.
In this article I will share 16 Insights for lifelong leadership from my conversation with enlightened leadership expert Gina Gardiner, founder & Ceo of Genuinely You.
As the Founder of Leave Normal Behind I am always speaking with individuals like Gina who are inspiring, helping, and encouraging others to become the best version of themselves, give back, love, and create things that matter.
Gina is currently in the process of filming a video series on being the leader of life with notable influencers like Melody Garcia, Rocky Pamphile, Steve Sims, Michael Losier, Mark Anthony King, Travis Cross, and Warren Buffet’s daughter-in-law.
The new era of consciousness requires us to recognize that we are powerful beings. Genuine power is not about division or diminishing others.
When you step into your genuine power you own your own potential and see the potential in others, then you are ready and willing to nurture that potential.
Remember — If you always do what you have always done — nothing will change. Nothing changes, unless something changes. As Thomas Jefferson said, “If you want something you’ve never had, then you must do something you’ve never done.”
The thinking that got you to this place will not be the thinking which takes you forward. Leadership is a lifelong endeavor.
Here Are The 16 Insights for Lifelong Leadership:
*Grand gestures rarely lead to lasting results — it is the small things done consistently which make a difference.
*You are the common denominator in your life — no matter what is going on, you are the common denominator. You take yourself into every moment of every day. Look for the patterns of your language and behavior and the outcomes. Consider what part you are playing in creating those patterns.
*95 % of our thoughts are habitual — Most of our thoughts, feelings, and actions operate through habitual patterns and frameworks, they do engage our conscious minds. If you want a better quality of life, then think better quality thoughts, and then take action on those better thoughts. What you focus on expands. Therefore focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t — look for solutions rather than focus on the problem.
*Everything we do is a choice — even not choosing is a choice, every choice has consequences. It is often when we don’t actively choose for ourselves that the consequences are most far-reaching. As a leader be decisive and make choices. So often a decision is neither right nor wrong — it is simply different.
*It is not the challenge which defines us but what we do with it — leaders exemplify their prowess in the face of adversity. When things are challenging lifelong leaders step up and answer the call. They recognize that huge growth comes from doing so.
*Our beliefs become our reality — The only thing which limits us — is us! Believe you will fail and it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Believe you will succeed and you will open the door to possibilities that bring your success.
*Take radical responsibility for your thoughts, emotions, words and actions and give yourself permission to step into your power — once you do you are no longer a victim to how others think and act towards you.
*Every relationship is a reflection of the relationship we have with ourselves — Become your own best friend and this will result in attracting great people around you. Lifelong leaders are magnets for purpose-driven people.
*Self -care is paramount — if you take care of yourself then you’ll have the resources to help others more effectively. Leaders understand that they cannot fill the cups of others if their own chalice is empty.
*What living legacy are you choosing to leave — Every word and action, or lack of it, has an affect on the legacy that we live behind. Leaders are always aware of their actions and the ripple effects created from their decisions.
- Communication is key — We have two ears and one mouth for a reason — listen more and speak less! Active listening is key. Leaders understand this. As the old adage goes, “People find you interesting if you are interested”.
*Leave your ego at the door — Your ego has one job and it’s to keep you safe. Be the master of your ego and leave it at home. Lifelong leaders exemplify humility and by doing so others give them the power and authority that they deserve.
*The most hurtful critic is you ! — Achievers tend to be their biggest critic. Leaders understand that there is a fine line between self-motivation and self-sabotage. Are you using the same criteria for yourself as you do others? Make sure to treat yourself fairly.
*Forgiveness offers the gift of freedom — holding onto the bitterness is like giving yourself poison and expecting the other person to die. It is not about forgetting or condoning the act, rather it is about letting go and forgiving in order to get the freedom to move forward. Leaders do not hold grudges because they recognize that this is a form of self-sabotage. Forgiving others is important, learning the lesson and forgiving yourself is just as vital.
*Practice kindness and gratitude — kindness and gratitude are timeless truths that always work no matter what. Lifelong leaders realize that success leaves clues and they do not have to ‘recreate the wheel’.
*Fulfillment comes from having a strong sense of purpose — being of service to others makes life meaningful. When we feel our actions are worthwhile and benefit others in a positive way it enriches our own lives and the lives of those we serve.. Lifelong leadership in the new era of consciousness requires enlightened leaders to be an example to others to do the same.
_____
It is time for those who are awakened to the need for change and who want to play a positive role in helping others to step forward and to up-level to become the beacon of light for others.
If you’d like to learn more then you must check out Gina’s Youtube videos.
Implement these insights shared by Gina in order to become an enlightened, lifelong leader.
To do so requires courage to do the work on oneself and do the right thing which isn’t always easy.
Lifelong leadership requires compassion for others, the environment and for oneself. It also requires the integrity, to be authentic, to walk your talk and to be the best version of you.
It is an ongoing journey so make sure you set the foundation today. Time is of the essence
__
