It happens to every leader at some point in his or her career - a vague unhappiness with your job, frustration with circumstances beyond your control, a sense that no matter how hard you work, nothing much is getting done. It’s all part of what executive coach Mary Jo Asmus calls the leadership struggle, and while getting out of that struggle may not be easy, change is possible.
In a post for Smart Blog on Leadership, Asmus outlines steps you can take to ease leadership struggle, “clearing your heart and your mind for making decisions and taking action that will send you on your way to greatness.”
Eight Steps to Take to Snap Out of Your Leadership Struggle
Take a Vacation
Chances are you have vacation time waiting to be used. “Travel and R&R are great ways to get your energy back,” Asmus notes. “Your organization won’t fall apart, and you’ll come back to work with renewed energy and new ideas.”
Expand Your Range of Knowledge
Pursue a new hobby or take a class. This helps you “to focus on something else and perhaps generate fresh ideas for moving upward.”
Build a Support Group
Look to friends, colleagues and family members who can offer encouragement during your struggle. With a “mastermind group of peers,” you can get support and inspiration and reciprocate as well to others in need.
Hire a Coach
If you have “a sensation of inability to move forward with goals or a sense of being ‘stuck,’” an executive coach may offer a way out of the rut “that is customized for you.”
Take Small Steps
“Sometimes it only takes a small step to start to get out of your struggle,” Asmus says. Think about where you can start and what first small step you can take to change your situation. “Take that step and those that follow may be easier.”
Take Care of Your Health
Your leadership struggle may be related to how well you’re taking care of yourself. Pay attention to what you eat, the amount of sleep you’re getting and your level of regular exercise. “Your struggle may be eased and overcome when you take care of yourself.”
Learn From Other Leaders
You can learn about coping strategies by observing other leaders in times of crisis. “Better yet, observe other leaders at their best,” Asmus says. “Sometimes ‘trying out’ something you observe them doing effectively” offers insights into dealing with your own struggles.
Focus On the Needs of Others
“When you struggle, you’re focused inward on yourself.” One way out of that struggle is by turning your attention to the needs of others. Helping people overcome hardship (whether it’s advising a family member or providing community service) may help put your own struggle into perspective, “making it less ominous.” The good feeling that comes with helping others will certainly give you renewed strength to conquer your leadership struggle.
How do you cope with your leadership struggles?
