So your project needs a leader. Maybe you’ve been looking for someone to help you turn your ideas into reality, or maybe you’ve had a few dreams about taking on a leadership role yourself. In today’s business world, we often see leaders as an executive or director with one specific job to do, but what we don’t often see is the diverse sets of skills and tasks that go into getting an idea off the ground and into the hands of customers. Regardless of your motivation or your project, there are some things that everyone should ask themselves – or any potential hire – about the mindset and attitude required by any effective leader.
How Does A Leader Start Their Day?
The first moments of the day can make or break the rest of it, so it’s important to set a high-performance tone for your day right at the start. Some simple changes that anyone can make include taking steps to ensure high-quality sleep the night before or doing some yoga in the morning. Advanced life-hackers can even look into tools or exercises that let them wake up at the optimal point during their sleep cycle for a wake-up that’s energized and free from morning grogginess.
How Does A Leader Take Care Of Themselves?
Every good leader knows that you’re the captain of your own life. Everyone knows that if you want your professional ventures to flourish, you have to take good care of them, but how are your projects supposed to be stable and healthy if you’re not taking care of their most important benefactor – yourself! Putting effort into being at your best physically and emotionally pays huge dividends in the professional world.
No one wants to be making a bad call because they’re exhausted or snapping at a coworker and straining a business relationship because they haven’t eaten that day. Michael Canzian, for example, advocates regular exercise like running, cycling, and weightlifting to all leaders: “Exercising regularly vitalizes both mind and body… Being physically active means naturally improving one’s mood”
What Are Other Leaders In This Field Doing?
Every leader is, first and foremost, a learner. Guiding a team or project means rolling with the punches and responding to the circumstances. Doing so optimally means paying close attention to what those circumstances are as well as to how the rest of your field is navigating them. Sometimes it’s best to follow the pros, but sometimes you’ll spot a flaw in their strategy that’s ripe for you to take advantage of.