Leadership for a New Era

What is leadership?

If you think this might not be for you, because a leader is someone with organisational seniority or who runs a team of people, then it’s time to take a fresh look at what leadership is and how it’s impacting businesses today.

A leader inspires, guides, and influences others to work towards a particular vision or direction. It’s less about a title or position and more about demonstrating behaviours, making decisions, and creating an environment focused on moving toward a specific purpose.
Think less push or pull and more attract…less domination, more collaboration.

And I’m here to welcome this fresh shape of leaders with open arms. How about you?

It’s not just about managing resources, driving purpose and vision, but being a champion of people, and being a steward of values. They shape not only the success of the business and it’s people, but they also represent its culture and long-term sustainability.

With the rise of entrepreneurship, more of us are adopting leadership roles. But in truth, most of us don’t arrive equipped with all the specific skills or qualities to lead or are even consciously aware we are in a position of leadership.

Because being great at our craft, doesn’t automatically mean we have confidence, clarity, creativity, resilience or the ability to strategise. But like all skills and qualities, they can be learned, developed, or attuned to.

My take on leadership

As a certified Somatic Coach, I have seen that many of the key resources we need to grow our leadership can be contacted through the body, via our energy, emotions, creativity, and lived experience. Pretty cool huh? So, I help people access these resources to inform the choices they make every day.

Having been an entrepreneur for 8 years, working predominantly in the online space, I’m no stranger to the challenges of running a business and how it can impact our stress responses and emotional health.

Before starting out in business however, I worked in corporate for 15 years as part of the buying teams of the UK’s best-known high street retailers (including working for some retail tycoons you will know), where top-down hierarchy was very much the flavour of the day.

So, leadership has been something I’ve got up close and personal with, from all angles. And yes, I truly have seen it when it’s not so pretty, and have lived the difference it makes when a more collaborative, emotionally intelligent, and ethical approach are adopted.

How does the body come into leadership?

When we work with the body, our stress responses, and our emotional intelligence, we see that leadership is about building a gap between ourselves and the choices we make. We then get to stand in that gap and make powerful moves.

Once we’ve created that space we can bring in intelligence to inform our choices built from our personal authenticity and the wisdom of our brand. Things like, our unique brilliance, informed perspectives, values, mission, intuitive information, and the beneficial impact we have on our clients.

When we start with these foundations, (with the body first), anything becomes possible for our leadership. Because mastering the ability to choose our responses, everything else – namely our vision, relationships, resilience, magnetism, clarity, and creativity will grow from the same foundational approaches and behaviours.

The new way forward

This type of leadership is truly authentic…and not something that can be faked. We feel it, don’t we? We know when someone feels off or when their action isn’t aligned with their words.

And if you’re not already aware, the world is run by feelings. We choose to buy (or not) based on how we feel.

So, by getting it right (and by that, I mean authentic, not perfect), you get to stand in the power of your leadership…and attract the people, opportunities, and success you want. Because this is magnetism created by getting clear, aligned and convicted in your ethical leadership.

The great news is, thanks to the shifting demands of the market and increased awareness of the consumer, the need for authenticity and integrity from business leaders is increasing. The old ways of control and hierarchy are fading…fast.

So right now, we are stepping into this new era of leadership, together! Are you ready?

Stay tuned for more updates on how you can work with your leadership archetype to upgrade your potential and more information about the key areas we can work on to grow our impact as leaders in today’s market.

Self-reflection

Do you recognise yourself as a leader?

What qualities or skills do you need to develop to feel more solid in your role?

What have you experienced when a leader has got it wrong?

If so, how has that impacted the way you show up in your business?

Do get in touch with your thoughts and experiences – I’d love to hear from you!