Are you an “expectant” leader?

Winds in the east, there's a mist comin' in

Like somethin' is brewin' and 'bout to begin.

Can't put me finger on what lies in store,

But I feel what's to happen all happened before

-       P.L. Travers

I really like this is the opening line of Mary Poppins based upon the book by P.L. Travers. Just like how the arrival of Mary Poppins changed the life of the family in the story for the better, it got me thinking out loud about the advantages of living a life of expectation or anticipation!

So let me ask you a few questions:

• Do you view your alarm clock as a death knell or a starter’s pistol?
• Do you feel you are just going through the motions or does each day promise something new?
• Do you intentionally plan to learn or experience something new each day or do you just take it as it comes?
• When is the last time you ordered something different on your pizza or favorite takeout?

Here’s the point. As leaders, we are role-models whether we want to be or not and living a life of expectation of something new, better, or interesting each day is an incredible gift you can provide for yourself and those that follow you. It has so many benefits:

• It puts us in a positive mindset
• It makes us more creative
• It helps us believe in possibilities vs just probabilities
• It adds zest in life and gets us out of our ruts
• It makes the kind of person others want to be around
• It helps others look forward to their next day

So how do we start living a LIFE OF EXPECTATION? Like everything related to personal growth, it requires you to be INTENTIONAL about it! You have to plan for it and not put it off! Here are a few examples:

• Calendar a new experience in your community
• Choose to view an independent film (vs the normal fare of comic heroes or paranormal activity which seems all that Hollywood can produce these days!)
• Visit a new exhibit at a local museum
• Go to the nearest national park service park, monument, etc.

In terms of leading in the workplace:

• Hold a meeting in a new location (or have a “walking meeting” as embraced by Steve Jobs!)
• Ask one of your staff to lead a project
• Intentionally practice one new leadership approach or skill that you learned from a chapter in a book or video presentation for one full work week and ask everyone else do the same
• Have your team sign up for a free webinar related to something germane to your business and debrief after
• Ask one of your staff to teach everyone else how to do something they are particular good at (e.g. social media, software program, negotiating, etc.)

Granted, I know we are all busy but just try this in small, digestible steps. Maybe substitute an experience for the regular evening TV. Cover your eyes and order whatever your finger lands on a menu (obviously I will give you a pass if you have a food allergy!). Ask “How can I?” versus “Can I?” . . . just once. Let these small things become big deals!

As always if I can help you and the people you associate with Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I would invite you to email me or to visit my website below and see if any of the training or coaching experiences I offer can provide an impact! Also, as a bonus, if you go to my Out Loud Strategies website (www.outloudinc.com) and enter your contact information, I will send you a FREE guide to establishing a mentoring initiative program in your organization! Such an initiative would be critical in order to add value to your organization!

Yours in Leadership,

Bill Faulkner

Principal Consultant – Out Loud Strategies

Independent Coach, Speaker, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team ^TM

Email = bill@outloudinc.com

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