5 Simple Intentions to Lift Your Leadership in 5 Days
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” Dan Millman
Intentions create focus.
Focus defines success.
You go where you look.
5 intentions to lift your leadership:
#1. Grow your leadership on Monday.
What’s one thing you can do to improve your leadership today? Think of something you aren’t currently doing.
- Shift the way you begin 1:1s.
- Bring up difficult topics with curiosity.
- Fuel positive trajectory in meetings you lead.
#2. Ask two open-ended questions before making one statement today on Tuesday.
Open-ended questions begin with what, how, or why.
Avoid questions that begin with, “Don’t you …,” “Do you …,” or, Isn’t it….”
Yes or no questions don’t challenge thought.
Yes or no questions create brief encounters and weak connections.
3 curious questions anyone can ask anytime:
- What should I be asking?
- What’s important to you about this?
- What am I missing?
#3. Notice people’s energy on Wednesday:
When people light up, ask, “You just lit up, what’s happening for you?”
When energy fades, ask, “I just noticed your shoulders dropping, what’s bringing you down?”
#4. End meetings 10 minutes early today on Thursday:
- Announce your intention to end meetings 10 minutes early.
- Begin ending the meeting 20 minutes early.
#5. Express gratitude at the end of every meaningful conversation on Friday.
Be thankful for things people have done. Thank people for things they have done.
Be thankful to people for character traits and behaviors. “I’m delighted you’re on our team. I can always count on you.” “You’re really good at….”
3 Tips:
- Choose intentions before you show up for work.
- Use different intentions for each day of the week.
- Cycle back through your 5 intentions for 6 or 8 weeks.
What intentions would lift your leadership?
Still curious:
Did You Know that Good Intentions can Defeat You
4 Steps to Clarify Your Leadership Intent
Dan,
Would you expand a bit on tips 2 & 3? I’m wondering about the difference of focusing on five intentions in parallel for 6-8 weeks rather than in sequence. And I’m wondering how to maintain clarity and avoid the pitfall of multiple intentions leading to a lack of follow-through.
Peggy Lynn
Thanks for asking Peggy Lynn. I intended to communicate “in sequence” not all 5 every day.
I prefer one small/actionable intention each day to allow for variety.
Hope I understood your question. Cheers
What intentions would lift your leadership?
The leaders “big Intention” needs to figure out how he or she can add value.
What does the person or team need to grow and develop and get the job done? (a bigger challenge, clearer goals, increased confidence, knowledge and skill etc.) What are people unable to do for themselves?
Thanks Paul. I appreciate your insights. In particular, “What are people unable to do for themselves?”
Great blog Dan! It is often the simplest intentions that leads to the best leadership moments for us. This is a great, wholistic blog useful in anyone’s career or implemented in their leadership style.
I really like the simplicity of these action items each day, Dan! They are effective and will become engrained in a leader’s behavior as the habit is repeated for 6-8 weeks. Sometimes we, as leaders, get wrapped up in what we are doing and hurry through the important stuff that helps our employees thrive and grow. I am going to print this out to remind myself to be mindful of how I approach each workday. Thank you!