Yesterday's Leadership Roadmap Needs Remodeling

It isn’t working. Almost nothing about the way a leader led in the Nineties works today. If you need proof, just look around. Businesses are gone that should be thriving, new businesses are sprouting that weren’t even a dream back then.

Yesterday’s roadmap for success doesn’t work for today’s entrepreneur and business strategist any more than a 1931 Ford Model A could successfully race in the Daytona 500. Yet leaders continue to employ the same set of “old” traditional rules — accomplishing less while increasing anxiety and stress for all.

The Old Roadmapr
It used to be that all you needed to be a successful leader was:
• A vision
• A plan
• Hard work
• Flexibility
• Innovation

Nowhere in this plan are today’s elements of success: communication, connection, recognition and regeneration. Today, a business cannot exist without these additional strategies, along with various others that pertain directly to specific business models.

Many leaders have rapidly come to the conclusion that communication, connection and recognition have become key components of any thriving business strategy. But few have grasped the idea that they personally need to regenerate to stay in-control, be ahead of the game and remain innovative. Most know that you need to stay in top physical and mental health to be productive, motivated and relevant in a nano-second changing world.

But what about regeneration? That is a spiritual activity, a component not generally recognized as a necessity in the leadership toolbox. Regeneration will feed and nurture you in ways that will help you stay focused, calm and balanced, no matter what you face on your leadership journey. Use the following regenerate acronym to tap into that spiritual power within:

REGENERATE

-Regenerate yourself often to reduce stress and chaos

-Energize yourself daily through meditation and reflection (the higher the chaos and stress the more depleted your personal energy becomes)

-Get rid of chaos and stress so you can feel empowered and in control

-Engage in nurturing activities like taking a quiet walk, meditation or absolute silence to refresh your mind and spirit

-New activities and thoughts will flow into your mind as you eliminate the old ones

-Everything you think, say, feel and do matters because that is how you create the “new”

-Relax more, read an uplifting book or listen to soothing music to clear the mind

-Allow for downtime, shut off the electronic equipment for one hour per week and bask in the silence to refresh the mind

-Think positive thoughts, make a list if you have to in the beginning of “I can do this” or “I create the new” or “I can_____.”

-Every intent you set matters, set your intent nightly for the new day and be sure that intent includes regeneration time

The Mahatma Gandhi quote is a perfect reminder of the value he placed on reflection and regeneration: “I have so much to accomplish today that I must meditate for two hours instead of one.”

Regeneration needs to be a regular part of your schedule and put on your calendar. It is part of the new roadmap to success no matter how you define success; the biggest rewards are better health, improved mental acuity and innovation, including problem solving.