Leadership Principle #4 - Separating the Wheat From the Chaff
Leadership Principle #4 - Separating the Wheat From the Chaff
In life, success is a journey, not a destination. This is something we hear frequently in life, but what does this actually mean and how does this impact you as a CEO? And what happens when we discover this journey we’re on is actually a marathon, not a sprint? To put it another way, how do we avoid burnout in our life and career during this ongoing marathon effort? What I’m about to tell you is the key to not only avoiding burnout, but thriving in everything you do.
First of all, ask yourself, are you just going with the flow or are you purposeful with your direction? Most people go through life like wheat blowing in the wind, with no particular destination in mind. But - no surprise - this is not a way to achieve significant things in life! The first step is to have an awareness of where you are along life’s journey. Again, a majority of individuals are so distracted by the busyness of life that they are generally unaware of their broader trajectory. I challenge to you develop an awareness of where you are and where you want to go in life.
The next step is a process of goal setting focused around the key elements of career, health, activity, faith, family, finances and friends. These are all elements that need to be in balance, so they should inform your goal setting. Sneak peek: you can’t do everything, but this goal setting activity will help you to prioritize in order to achieve more in the important areas that matter to you.
Next, and this is a crucial step, you need to be constantly checking in with yourself against these goals and adjusting in real time. This constant adjustment is the only way to avoid staying out of balance for too long because - here’s the secret - you will always be out of balance in some area. Different pressures (health, job, family) will continually seek to push you out of alignment, so the ability to adjust and course correct is mission-critical. Remember…this is a marathon and you need all your available energy for the duration.
Your ability to not only persevere but thrive really comes down to a process of goal setting, prioritization and constant adjustments. That will allow you to be the best leader you can be, in home, work and community. These techniques help my clients move from feeling overwhelmed, tired and frustrated to leading an energetic, purposeful and fulfilling life.
If you are interested in learning my how process of goal setting can help you achieve more, I’m available for a conversation about CEO coaching opportunities. Reach out today.