How agile is your organisation? #repost

We live in a time of continuous change. Interesting, complex and exciting. It is adapt or perish... Agility is a must to move quickly and well with developments. But how flexible do you have to be, without losing the connection with yourself?

In my leadership coaching I work from the hardiness concept: one of the best-substantiated approaches within the resilience literature. Hardiness describes how people under pressure stay committed to what is essentially important to them (commitment), experience that they can exert influence (control) and see change as a challenge to learn from (challenge).

Decades of research show that these three attitudes together form a powerful buffer against stress, and are strong predictors of healthy functioning, learning capacity and effective leadership, even in highly demanding contexts. It is precisely this combination of meaning, agency and a learning orientation that connects directly to my focus on conscious, emotionally intelligent leadership and developing resilient professionals.

What is your key to an agile organisation?

Protectionism, however, seems to be growing, oligarchy* is increasing, while safety and connection are a concern for those who actually want to build relationships worldwide.
‘Improve the world, start with yourself’, is a piece of wisdom my parents passed on to me. If you know yourself (better), can feel your drive and your pain, you can recognise them in the other person sooner. Develop what you have influence over, and learn to deal with those who look the other way.

Leadership remains as important as ever. Hierarchical and directive leadership are old school. As a leader you must be able to empower your employees and teams. That makes a strong appeal to well developed emotional intelligence. We believe that this quality starts with yourself, so you can operate from there.

Connecting with yourself: ‘be creative’

Use the (Christmas) holiday to look at yourself as you were when you started as a leader, or when you began your career in the first place. How did you stand in it then, what were your dreams? What are they now?
An exercise: write a letter to yourself as you were when you started. Preferably grab a notebook or a stack of A4 sheets and your favourite pen or pencil. In any case no digital tablet ;-) Hang a note on the door or around your neck: ‘Me, myself & I: please don't disturb’. Try to write undisturbed for at least an hour. Later in the day, meet up with a partner, friend or colleague and read the letter aloud. What does this letter say about your ambitions back then, and how you feel now?

For job seekers: keep looking for connection and possibilities. LinkedIn is a medium that can really work for you. Think of creative, appealing ways to bring your own qualities and personal characteristics to the fore. But (and this may sound contradictory) also schedule the occasional jobless day for yourself. Allow yourself to feel truly free for a moment.

Creativity can then grow again. Usually you have to draw a lot out of yourself when you have no work environment. Looking for and finding work, staying optimistic and carrying on is, after all, very hard work...
For the leaders: how agile and connective are you?

Good luck!

Feel like learning more? Look here for the coaching for leaders.

For job seekers: click for more information.

*oligarchy: government by a few persons who belong to certain privileged classes or ranks, outside of which no one is granted any direct or indirect share in the country's governance. Source: Van Dale