Being a leader in today's world is about collaborating, giving the work back to a group, and experimenting with new solutions. Most importantly, leadership is always about working with others: we cannot go it alone and live in solitude– our greatest challenge is about trusting, testing and letting others in to our most important work.
Oftentimes, we don’t share those hours we work, the sweat we build up, and the tears we give. It’s easy to hide and not share your challenges. It may be for many reasons, you don’t feel ready to talk to people about it, you’ll think they’ll say negative things, or you just don't want to share it. The truth is feedback is all opinion and all positive. We just have to be in the right place to engage with others.
Here are four key ways to make sure you don't go it alone and collaborate:
1) Improve your capacity to ask for help: We all have to learn to ask for help. We need to work with confidants and allies. You can't lead alone. You need people to debrief with everyday.
2) Get comfortable and confident with yourself: Connect with your inner spirit that gives you energy. Connecting to our hearts give us an internal force that helps us grow–it's that little inkling of, I know myself and I can do it.
3) Create structures to stop feeling alone: Find an accountability partner, a buddy who is on your side and helping you grow in the same way you are helping them grow. Choose someone who knows your strengths and can help you move forward.
4) Build a board of quotes: Inspirational messages or some type of mantra / affirmation are excellent ways to reframe your mind, keep you motivated and energized for your next challenge.
