Are you showing up as the leader you want to be? Do you know what sets you apart from those around you?
Continuing my exploration of what it means to be an A.U.T.H.E.N.T.I.C. leader, this week I am considering what it means to truly understand that you are Unique.
A = Awareness & Acceptance
U = Unique
T = Transformation
H = Head & Heart
E = Engage & Empower
N = North Star
T = Trust
I = Influence & Impact
C = Compassion, Courage & Curiosity
Each one of us is unique and to become an exceptional and authentic leader we must embrace our differences.
It is very easy to slip into thinking along the lines of "I am a __________(fill in the blank with your title or profession) and there are lots of those around, so I don't bring anything special", yet only you have your particular blend of values, strengths, passions and wisdom. It is this special blend which helps you uncover your purpose and create your aspirations.
Taking time to explore each of these elements in depth is the only way for us to own our stories, and author the next chapters in the way we choose rather than being directed by the expectations of others.
As Oscar Wilde said:
"Be yourself, everyone else is taken."
So how can you explore this facets of your self:
Values
Ask yourself what is most important to you, and what does success in living these values look like for you? To assist on doing this work make sure you download my Freedom & Fulfilment e-book with the button at the top of this page. You can prioritise them by asking yourself which ones you need satisfied above all others.
Finding greater clarity on your values can help you make tough decisions, as they can act as your compass when you are wondering which path to take, and they can and also alert you to when you are not operating in alignment with them so that you can make new choices
Strengths
All too often many of us focus on our weaknesses and we entirely overlook our strengths - this is often because what we are naturally good at comes easily to us and we assume it comes easily to everyone else as well and don't give ourselves credit for it.
I highly recommend taking the VIA Character Strengths assessment, which you can find here (it is a free assessment), to build your language around what your strengths are and how you can leverage them. Research has shown that using your strengths a lot significantly increases your ability to thrive and do your best work.
Passions
What is it you really care about deeply? What are the things in life which light you up and bring you joy? It is only when we incorporate these things into our lives that we can truly flourish.
A helpful exercise can be to think back to when you were young and reconnect with the things which lit you up as a child as this can provide clues for where you might rediscover your passions.
Wisdom
What have you learned from the most difficult times of your life? Every obstacle we have faced has presented us with an opportunity to learn a lesson which we can use in the future. Every nasty icky bit of life which we would rather forget has given us the capacity to grow empathy for others who are suffering.
The resilience we have learnt during adversity can help us face new challenges as look to grow, and this can help us take the lead when others are faltering. Learning from when we made poor choices can help us make wise choices in the future, and we can share our experiences with others.
Stories
Unpacking our stories, the good, the bad and the ugly, and turning them over in our hands allows us to get to grips with who we are and what we have to offer the world. It enables us to push back on the "shoulds", which are all the things we believe we "should" do because someone else said so.
These are all the elements which make us Unique and help us figure what we bring to our leadership role that only we can bring. These are the things which help us author our own story as a leader.
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