We all can be leaders… if we choose to be. A leader of your own life, in a professional position of leadership, as the custodian, or most importantly in how you choose to show up in your life as a Person, a Professional, Partner, and Parent! Choosing to act as a leader is not for the faint-of-heart; as it will come with its laundry list of responsibilities that can easily drain you and steal your attention from the things that will make your success worth having… I call them “Attention Drainers”!
Perhaps, it’s that project at work with the deadline you must make in order prove your worth, move up in the company, get that bonus, or keep you in good standing… which will be one of thousands of deadlines that will be expected of you! I’ve had several companies push back meetings with me on beginning internal ways to enhance leadership and work/life harmony for their employees and team due to being project busy, deadlines, and not the right time. I certainly believe timing is important… however, is there ever a time when a project has stopped and there was nothing to do? In my experience, there are always multiple projects in the works, one waiting, and “Busy” is always ready to jump on our backs!
As a leader, be sure to meet your deadlines and dominate those projects; being mindful not to let your task become an “Attention Drainer”; leading you to ignore the needs and wants of your staff, your team, and your loved ones! We can only put people on hold for so long until they Burn-Out or Bore-Out… and are no longer the same or there at all when you are ready to return to them.
Perhaps your “Attention Drainer” is that awesome new life milestone… a new home, a baby, a wedding, etc.! If this is happening in your life right now… a BIG Congrats to you! However, it’s always amazed me how such great milestones can also become “Attention Drainers”. We become so consumed with planning the wedding, decorating our new home, or caring for the kids… we completely neglect our husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend… our family and friends… only to look up one day and have achieved our singular definition of success, but not the relationships to go with it! A leader knows that success with no one to share it with is the saddest feeling in the world. So, what to do?
To read the complete article and learn more about Andre visit: www.youevolvingnow.com or palomagazine.com.
By Andre Young
