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Thriving in Leadership: Balancing Professional Demands, Building Confidence, and Making Effective Decisions

Balancing Professional Demands with Personal Well-being

 

Striking the right balance between professional demands and personal well-being can be a significant challenge and is often a continuous struggle for many leaders. The pressure of leadership roles can often lead to an imbalance, resulting in burnout and reduced effectiveness both at work and at home. To combat the issue, we are responsible for our own actions and need to implement strategies that allow us to manage our professional responsibilities while also nurturing our personal lives. This includes setting boundaries, delegating more, and making time for family and self-care routines.

It’s not just about knowing what to do — it’s about finding the discipline to prioritize these actions and execute them amidst constant demands. Many are aware of the steps they need to take but find it challenging to consistently put them into practice. This is because the pressures and unexpected demands of leadership can often push personal well-being to the back burner. Recognizing this struggle is the first step toward making meaningful changes.

 

Some tactical takeaways:

1. Set Clear Boundaries: Define boundaries between work and personal life and communicate these to your team.

  • Example: Make it a practice to avoid checking work emails after 7 PM to ensure you have uninterrupted personal time in the evening. This simple action can help you unwind and mentally separate from work.

2. Delegate Effectively: Trust your team and delegate tasks appropriately to reduce your workload and empower others.

  • Example: Assign task responsibilities to trusted team members. You don’t have to do it all yourself, and this will allow you to focus on strategic and business development priorities. Remember, focusing on the business rather than in the business opens up opportunities for growth and efficiencies.

3. Schedule Personal Time: Prioritize personal time by scheduling it into your calendar like any other important meeting.

  • Example: Block out an hour each morning prior to your workday to practice self-care that will help you get centred and be more energized. This is the time you may decide to meditate, do some yoga, walk your dog, go to the gym, read the news, or read a book – whatever activity helps you start your day off on the right foot. As we move into June, if you have not booked your holidays for the year as yet – it is time to do so. Having something to look forward to is motivating and will help you get through the busy times at work.

4. Reflect and Adjust: Regularly reflect on your balance and make necessary adjustments to ensure a sustainable integration of work and your personal life.

  • Example: At the end of each week, review your calendar for that week and note any wins, what worked well and what didn’t, and note what items you did not get to that should be carried over so they don’t fall through the cracks. Make note of any personal time that was compromised. Then, plan how to protect that time better in the future. The next step is to do a preview of the week ahead, review your upcoming meetings and appointments and determine what amount of preparation time you need to ensure is scheduled into your calendar. Decide on the top three items that you want to focus on over the next week, and ensure there is time in your schedule to work on these items. We can’t blame anyone else for our own self care – it is up to us to take the responsibility to manage our time and priorities and focus on what is important both at and outside of work. This weekly review and preview of the week ahead will help you stay proactive about focusing on what is important and maximizing your time and efficiency in getting things done. Balancing professional and personal demands is a continuous journey; there is no such thing as a 50/50 balance. You need to focus on what is right for you at any given time. While it may not always be easy to do so, it is certainly achievable with intentional effort and discipline. We can’t blame anyone else for how we spend our time – really, it’s true! It is up to us to take responsibility for managing our time and priorities and focus on what is important both at and outside of work.

 

Building Confidence and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

 

Do you ever experience imposter syndrome or lack professional confidence? A significant number of people do – up to 82% have faced feelings associated with imposter syndrome at some point in their lives. This internal challenge can prevent leaders from fully leveraging their capabilities and leading their teams with conviction. To build confidence and overcome imposter syndrome, leaders can focus on recognizing their achievements, seeking feedback, and continuously developing their skills.

 

Tactical Take-Aways

1. Acknowledge Achievements: Regularly reflect on and celebrate your accomplishments to build self-confidence.

  • Example: At the end of each week, document your key wins and milestones to review progress and reinforce confidence.

2. Seek Feedback: Actively seek constructive feedback from peers and mentors to gain perspective and improve.

  • Example: Schedule quarterly feedback sessions with a trusted colleague or mentor to discuss your progress and areas of improvement.

3. Continuous Learning: Invest in personal and professional development to enhance your skills and knowledge.

  • Example: Enroll in a relevant course, plan to attend a conference, listen to related podcasts, read or listen to books that will help your development and enable you to stay current and competent.

4. Mentorship/Sponsorship: Find a mentor or professional sponsor* who can provide guidance and support as you navigate leadership challenges.

*A professional sponsor for a leader is a senior-level leader who actively advocates for, promotes and facilitates the career advancement of a less experienced leader or emerging leader within an organization.

  • Example: Identify a trusted individual who can offer personalized support and guidance for focused and relevant advice.

5. Positive Self-Talk: Practice positive self-talk and challenge negative thoughts to build a resilient mindset. Research suggests that we have about 6,200 thoughts per day, and a staggering 80% of them can be negative.

  • Example: By actively working to replace negative thoughts with positive self-talk, you can foster a more optimistic and productive mindset. Building confidence and overcoming imposter syndrome is a continuous process. By implementing some of the strategies, it will help you develop a resilient mindset and lead your team with conviction and confidence.

 

Effective Decision-Making in Complex Environments

 

We often face the challenge of making decisions in complex and challenging environments. The pressure to make the right choice can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with incomplete information and high stakes.

To improve decision-making, we can use structured approaches to gather and analyze information, involve key stakeholders, and evaluate potential outcomes. This helps in making informed and confident decisions. However, in many situations, time constraints and the need for immediate responses can make this process challenging. To overcome this, leaders should focus on preparation and adaptability.

 

1. Develop Decision-Making Frameworks: Create and practice using decision- making frameworks such as SWOT analysis or decision trees. Familiarize yourself with these tools so that they become second nature, allowing you to apply them quickly under pressure.

  • Example: Before major meetings, run through potential scenarios using a decision tree to outline possible outcomes and responses. This pre- planning helps you react more effectively in real time.

2. Build a Knowledge Base: Continuously update your knowledge and understanding of key areas relevant to your role. This can include industry trends, company data, and stakeholder interests. A well-rounded knowledge base allows for quicker, more confident decisions and will help you think critically and quickly in different situations.

  • Example: Dedicate time each week to review industry reports and internal data to stay informed and ready for on-the-spot decision-making.

3. Leverage Team Expertise: Cultivate your network of knowledgeable team members and colleagues who can provide quick, reliable input when needed. This will help you speed up the decision-making process and improve your quality of decisions.

  • Example: Establish who should be in your group to consult with quickly during critical moments of decision-making.

4. Stay Calm Under Pressure: Practice the ‘slow burn.’ You may not have control over the events that occur, but you have complete control over how you choose to respond to them. Develop techniques to manage stress and stay calm when quick decisions are required. Techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness, and taking brief moments to collect your thoughts can significantly improve decision-making quality.

  • Example: Before making a snap decision, take a moment to breathe deeply and quickly assess the situation using a pre-determined mental checklist.

By implementing these strategies, leaders can enhance their ability to make quick, informed decisions even under pressure. Preparation, continuous learning, and effective use of frameworks and team expertise are key to overcoming the challenges of rapid decision-making.

 

Reach out today to learn more about coaching | +1-604-616-1967 | jenny@jennyreilly.com

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PERSONAL VISION

So many people go through life without a personal vision. If you are one of those individuals (don’t worry, I was too), it is not too late. The following questions will help you think about what your personal vision could look like. Your personal vision should guide you in all other aspects of your life.

  • If you could project ten years from today, where will you be, what will you be doing and who will you be with?
  • If you attain your vision, what would you be doing differently than you are today?
  • Will you commit to taking the actions needed to reach your vision?
  • What obstacles or challenges do you feel you may have to overcome to attain your vision?
  • What support do you need, and from whom to get started, stay motivated and keep accountable?
  • Have you shared your vision with anyone?
  • Share it, review it regularly and commit to moving it forward by continuous execution of ACTION.

 

‘Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?’
– Mary Oliver

 

FIVE EASY STEPS TO YOUR PERSONAL VISION

  1. Develop a PERSONAL VISION – what do you want to do, where do you want to go and how do you
    want to feel? See it, feel it, imagine it.
  2. Set GOALS that will help you achieve your vision. Goals will help you identify actions required for execution. Prioritize your goals and define what you need to focus on per quarter moving forward. List the goals that you will work on through to completion next quarter.
  3. For each goal, PLAN the keystone actions required for every week of the quarter (12 weeks) to produce the results you are looking to achieve. When possible, list action items that can be completed within one week. These will drive your weekly and daily plans.
  4. Commit to working on the WEEKLY ACTIONS. Don’t lose traction. Even when you don’t feel like working on one of the actions, remain true to your commitments. Continuous execution of actions will ensure you retain momentum.
  5. Every Monday, spend 15-30 minutes conducting a WEEKLY REVIEW (what you focused on the week prior) and weekly preview (what you will focus on this week). Your weekly plan will help you map out the actions required in your schedule. Do not skip this step! This will help you MEASURE your weekly success and identify areas that need your attention and improvement.

 

WHAT DOES A GREAT WEEK LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

Our days are often taken up by items we have not planned or scheduled. To allow time in your schedule to work on priorities, I suggest you allocate three periods in your weekly schedule to increase your efficiency and enable greater focus on tasks required for goal attainment.

WEEKLY THREE-HOUR STRATEGIC BLOCK

This three-hour period is scheduled, not interruptible and prioritized in your weekly plan. During this time, turn your notifications off. Don’t answer the phone during this period, and if in an office, close your door. This time will require 100% of your focus and should never be bumped. It will help you dig deep into strategic activities and get things done.

TWO DAILY 30-MINUTE BUFFER BLOCKS

Schedule one 30-minute period in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Use this time to make/answer phone calls, return voice mail, answer/send emails, and deal with low-value activities.

WEEKLY THREE-HOUR FREE BLOCK

Use this time to get away from your computer and perform face-to-face activities. Lunch or coffee with colleagues/clients/stakeholders. This time helps you focus on priority relationships that require your full attention.

 

‘Unless commitment is made, there are only promise and hopes; but no plans.’
– Peter Drucker

 

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

‘Once I have a holiday, I will have more energy.’
‘When we hire additional resources, we will be more organized.’
‘When the economy picks up, things will be better.’
‘Things will settle down after our busy period, and we will have more time to work on process improvements.’

Stop waiting for things to change. Make the change. You have control of one thing – your actions.

Take responsibility for the actions you take.

Commit to focusing on your actions to make your vision a reality, be self-accountable, and consistently execute on what needs to be done.

No more excuses, demonstrate your commitment – let’s get going.

BE IN THE MOMENT

Technology is excellent. However, how often do we get so distracted by it and forget to be in the moment? Alerts pinging, social notices, text messages… all take you away from being in the present. It is almost as though the fear of missing out outweighs social interaction conventions, whether in a professional or social setting. Being continually on is exhausting, stressful, and often a factor of burnout.

How much will you miss if you don’t look at your phone when you are in a meeting or when talking to one of your colleagues, clients, or stakeholders?

I encourage you this week to SLOW DOWN, be present and focus on one thing at a time. You will be surprised by how much you get done and how better you feel.

ACTION COMMITMENTS

Choose one thing that would make a significant difference if you did it daily in your professional or personal life.

Got it? Now commit to doing it daily for one quarter. The simple act of consistently executing on a critical action item that will help you be better in your job or personal life will benefit you fivefold.

 

‘There’s no such thing as work-life balance. There are work-life choices, and you make them, and they have consequences.’
– Jack Welch

 

If you have any questions about personal visions, or want to learn more on the powerful benefits of executive coaching to elevate your professional success, please reach out to +1 604-616-1967 or jenny@jennyreilly.com and book a complimentary 30-minute strategy session. If you want monthly leadership and professional development tips, sign up for my JRC newsletter or check out my social media on Instagram for top leadership advice throughout the year.

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Quarter 4 Goals | Your Playbook for Success

For many, at the beginning of the year, you may define business, professional and personal goals and have the best intentions; however, life happened, and you may not be on track to accomplish all you had originally set out to do at the beginning of the year. It is now time to refocus and end the year well.

What will you professionally focus on in Q4?

I discuss Q4 business priorities with many of my Executive Coaching clients. For those of you that do not have a clear plan for Q4, and to assist you in thinking about how you can approach this activity, I have outlined some areas below that I am working on with clients that may help you formulate your areas of focus for Q4. 

What are your key business areas of focus in Q4?  

When conducting a deep dive on my business quarterly, I focus on the following areas:

  1. Client Base + Customer Acquisition
  2. Financial + Revenue Generation
  3. Operational + Execution
  4. IT + Digital
  5. Human Resources + Attracting & Retaining
  6. Sales + Marketing
  7. Administrative + Process
  8. Process Mapping + Improvements

What are your professional and personal goals for Q4?

I set my annual professional and personal goals; however, I also conduct quarterly reviews, and where goals need to change, I pivot and update this list as the year progresses. If you have not done this in 2021 yet, it is time to look back at your original goals. Cross off what you have achieved to date, review what is still outstanding and analyze if those goals still stand as important or need to be completed in Q4. 

As we are in the year’s home stretch with only three months remaining in the calendar year, it is a great time to redefine focus areas for the remainder of the year. Are the goals you initially indicated that you would be working on this quarter still relevant? Due to your current circumstances, do they need to be updated, abandoned, or a new pivot introduced?

The following are eight areas that I think about during my quarterly review. You may include more or less and should base the categories on your situation. When I focus on areas of priority moving forward, I initially rank myself on each item below. We are only as strong as our weakest link, so that is why it is important to look at your whole life canvas and evaluate where you rate yourself, pivot and correct direction if necessary and be confident in the direction you decide to take. 

  1. Career – where do I want to be in my position by December 31st, 2021
  2. Financial – quarterly financial goals
  3. Intellectual – technical or interpersonal professional development focus for the quarter
  4. Parental – areas of focus with each child
  5. Physical – body health and exercise goals
  6. Psychological – attitudinal and emotional focus
  7. Relationship – areas to focus on with significant other
  8. Social – extended family, social and collegial relationship focus

Recognize what is and what is out of your focus of control.  ~ Jenny Reilly

Momentum - jenny Reilly Consulting

Keep the momentum going:

  • Once you start on your goal, connect with your motivators (your ‘why’ for working on the goal) and set a habit frequency to work on your goal daily.
  • When possible, it is best to work on a goal on a specific day/s weekly, to enable consistency in pushing the goal forward.
  • A final note on motivation, when you are working towards something, start with the easiest task first just to get started.
  • Attaining a quick win will help your momentum. 

Focus on what will provide you with the biggest impact professionally and personally in Q4. Once you have reclarified your goals for Q4, break them down into manageable steps, map out your milestone dates, and notate them in your calendar. We need to understand that obstacles may arise in the quarter to slow down progress on our goals; however, if you proactively plan what and how you will complete each step, you will have a greater likelihood of not being derailed and attaining your goals on, or before schedule. 

Take decisive action on your goals. I think of quarters as sprint runs. I have the energy and focus to work on complex projects over three months. A quarter is long enough to make a real impact and short enough not to get bored with the actions required for completion. 

Objectives are not just achieved magically, and work has to be intentional, focused, and planned to make things happen. 

Define your Q4 focus

  1. CLARIFY: When you detail your focus for Q4, it will help you clarify what action you need to take and provide you with the right mindset to move forward.
  2. DESCRIBE each area of focus into a specific goal statement when you detail what needs to be done, how you will do it, and when it provides you with a framework to work within.
  3. ACTION: Taking the first step on a goal is always a motivator to help you take the next. For each action item required, ensure you assign due dates for the activity, so you can map out what can be done by December 31st, 2021.
  4. PRIORITIZE: Having defined goals for the quarter will enable you to prioritize your work to ensure you stay on track and will assist you from falling into a procrastination rabbit hole.
  5. VISION: You can’t go anywhere unless you know where you are going – having your goals to focus on, daily reviewing your list and scheduling the next best step for each will help you formulate a path moving forward.

Your Q4 goals should be thoughtfully formulated. They should motivate action, have clearly defined tactics and an implementation timeline. 

  1. What do you believe you can accomplish in Q4? 
  2. What are your top five priorities over the next 90 days?
  3. What metrics will you track?
  4. How do you see the next three months rolling out in your schedule?
  5. What is your intention, what steps are required, and when will you do it?

Q4 with your team

With each of your teammates at your next team meeting:

  • Evaluate what worked well (in Q3 or over the last three quarters), what did not, and learnings/take-aways from both
  • Determine what action will be continued
  • Provide kudos to those who accomplished goals in the last quarter

If you encountered any wins, setbacks or failures, acknowledge them, learn from them, analyze what went wrong, what went right, and how you could have done things differently to improve the outcome. Reflection on January – September will enable you to facilitate greater progress in Q4. 

 

Achieve your Quarter 4 goals by answering some of these questions and focusing on your key professional and personal areas. If you need support with your strategy and priorities to hit your end of year targets, my executive coaching and business consulting support can help you, your team, and your business excel, please reach out to askme@jennyreilly.com or schedule a convenient time for a complimentary strategy session via Jenny Reilly Consulting Calendly.

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