What is a leadership mindset? How to create resilient space for you and your team

A leadership mindset is not just a set of skills or abilities one can learn. Instead, it is a way of thinking and approaching challenges that allows individuals to inspire and guide others toward a common goal. Numerous studies have been done to understand the traits and behaviors of strong leaders and what has made them that way.

One of the key characteristics of strong leaders is their ability to motivate and inspire others. They can communicate a clear vision and inspire their team to work towards achieving that vision. Studies have shown that leaders who can motivate their teams are more likely to achieve success, both in achieving their goals and creating a positive work environment.

Motivating employees to work harder, especially in a sprint, is a challenge every manager or leader faces. While financial incentives such as bonuses or salary increases can be effective (pay women more!), there are many other sustainable ways to motivate your team and promote a positive work environment. Here are some tips on how to motivate your team to work harder:

1. Set clear expectations: Communicate clear expectations to your team about what is expected of them regarding their performance and goals. This clarity will help them to focus on what is important and understand how their work contributes to the larger picture. Making sure you have a team leader who can have the broad picture and help remove

2. Recognize achievements: Recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of your team members. This can be done through verbal recognition, public praise, or small rewards such as a gift card or a team lunch. Celebrating successes can increase motivation and build morale.

3. Provide regular feedback: Provide your team with regular feedback on their performance. This includes both positive feedback and constructive criticism. This helps your team members understand where they stand, what they are doing well, and what they can improve. At least quarterly. If you cannot do it yourself, make sure it is in place systemically from others.

4. Foster a positive work environment: Create a positive one that promotes collaboration, teamwork, and a sense of belonging. This can be achieved by promoting open communication, encouraging creativity and innovation, and showing your team members their contributions are valued. Toxic culture has real implications fiscally and socially, and it’s essential to make changes.

5. Offer development opportunities: Offer your team members opportunities for professional development and growth. Executive Coaching! or can include training, mentoring, or even supporting them in pursuing higher education or certifications. This shows your team members that you are invested in their success and can increase motivation.

6. Lead by example: As a leader, it is important to lead by example. If you are passionate about your work and work hard, your team members will likely follow suit.

Another essential trait of strong leaders is their ability to make tough decisions. This means being willing to take risks and being comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity. Leaders who can make tough decisions and take risks are more likely to achieve success. They can move their organization forward in the face of adversity.

Iconic leaders have also demonstrated a willingness to learn and adapt. This means embracing feedback. Willing to listen to the opinions of others. Leaders who learn and adapt can better stay ahead of the curve and respond to changing circumstances.

One of the most challenging aspects of leadership is that it is lonely. Take heed that you’re in good company, and others who have been there have struggled as well. Perhaps turning to others who you admire can help put the troubles you face into perspective. For example, President Barack Obama has said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” or  “Never a failure, always a lesson”  from Rihanna. Seek out inspiration when needed. Seek out your own influencers. 

How to work on Leadership Mindset

If you are looking to develop your leadership mindset, there are several tips you can follow. One of the most important is to focus on building resilience. This means developing the ability to bounce back from setbacks and challenges and remain positive and focused even in adversity. 

Another important tip is to take on challenges. This means you will need to step outside of your comfort zone and take on tasks or projects outside your usual scope of work. Taking on challenges can push you forward in ways you do not expect, helping you develop new skills and abilities that can benefit you personally and professionally. One aspect of resiliency is that it takes time to build up.

Hopefully, from childhood, this next generation will be accustomed to hardship so that they grow up strong enough to take on difficult situations in life and work. In the meantime, focus on yourself and your team- make sure you take time to care for yourself and them! Build a supportive and positive community around you to help keep you emotionally strong. And do not be hard on yourself when things are difficult or go wrong. Take time to answer the difficult questions about why it went wrong, and make sure you can learn from the mistakes made. 

Ultimately, a leadership mindset is about approaching challenges with a positive and proactive attitude and working to inspire and guide others toward a common goal. 

“Never a failure, always a lesson.” – Rihanna