360° Leadership: Cultivating Stability and Fluidity
Effective leadership involves seeing all the data – not just what’s happening now, but also what is yet to happen – from all angles. It’s the ability to stay apprised of daily operations while constantly glimpsing into the future, to the sides, and even up above.
If you ever find yourself overwhelmed by this tall order, you’re absolutely not alone!
Keeping daily operations running smoothly, staying on top of any potential risks, and continuously making plans to move forward towards long-term goals requires a lot of practice and strategy.
The good news is, there are ways to strengthen the leadership skills necessary to see both the trees and the forest, staying present while also using foresight. Honing these skills can help ensure the longevity and success of your organization as a whole, and also help you maintain clarity and focus without the overwhelm.
Leading requires balance – cultivating both stability and fluidity
If you’re constantly focused on what’s coming around the corner, it’s hard to be present enough to make quick decisions in the moment. At the same time, though, keeping tabs on potential risks and outcomes is what will help your company stay ahead of the game and minimize unexpected setbacks.
So, how do you do it all?
The truth is that situations that you don’t see coming will sometimes arise, meaning that you must think quickly on your feet to adapt. Quick decision-making becomes easier when you can feel your feet firmly planted beneath you.
First, establish stability through grounding.
Grounding yourself requires a firm understanding of who you are, what you believe, and what core values you hold. By establishing stability in your integrity and mission, you can approach each decision with clarity and focus.
Staying connected to the people around you will also help deepen your awareness of the present moment – rooting you in the here and now. Community is strength, and your team, employees, and peers can serve as stabilizing entities, tethering you to what’s happening at all times.
Once grounded, start to foster fluidity.
The other side of the coin, when it comes to great leadership, is knowing when to be flexible and fluid. If you always do things a certain way and dig your heels in, you won’t be able to embrace the complexities of this ever-changing world.
Be willing to listen, adapt, and change your mind when necessary, allowing new information to play a part in making decisions and navigating challenges.
A great leader can find the balance between stability and fluidity – but also between grounding and looking ahead.
How to develop a long-term mindset to stay ahead of the game
Ready for a simple exercise to help you hone your ability to see challenges from all sides? Now that we’ve discussed how to plant your feet firmly, connect with your surroundings, and make fluid decisions, you can focus on developing foresight to see what lies ahead.
Try the following exercise for one week:
This will be your week of innovation – devoting 30 minutes every day to brainstorm possibilities from all different angles.
For 30 minutes at a time, you’ll let your mind wander to all different possibilities for the future of your organization. The sky's the limit, so be sure to write down what comes up to reflect on and analyze later. Just for this short time, allow your mind to wonder, roam, and explore all possibilities, risks, and outcomes that you can imagine.
There’s no wrong way to do this. The point is to set your mind free in the safety of these moments you’ve set aside, knowing that you soon can get back to the reality of what needs your attention in the present moment.
After a week, I believe you’ll find a deeper connection to your mind’s ability to anticipate what’s coming, while also benefiting from new inspiration and ideas for keeping your business moving ahead.
There’s a lot to navigate as a leader in your organization, but rest assured that balance is possible.
With the right tools, knowledge, and guidance you can learn to stay grounded, make decisions quickly, and keep tabs on what may come – steering your company effectively through both current and future challenges.
So, what are you waiting for?
Give yourself the best possible chance for success – let’s talk about customized coaching for your business!
Dawn Garibaldi is the CEO and Founder of Amplify Strategy Group. As an experienced corporate leader and certified executive coach, she’s on a mission to serve leaders to create significant impact, confident performance and powerful relationships -- with stakeholders, teams and peers. She shares powerful strategies and tactics to quickly amplify confidence, success and achievements far beyond what they thought possible.