Last time, we explored The Inner Development Goals — THE Leadership Model for the Future.  Now, we take a deeper dive into the  first category of this Framework:  "Being — Relationship to Self"

Traditional leadership models tend to focus a  on the actions ("doing") a leader has to take to be successful. However,  the underlying "being" sets the stage for what actions we take and how we take them.

The IDG highlights five specific qualities and skills for leaders:

1) INNER COMPASS
Your inner compass gives you a sense of direction. It's about your core values and beliefs.

Challenge: We are so busy  "doing", we rarely take time to stop and pause, and to reflect on the real priorities in our lives.

Reflection Questions:

• What are your core values in life that make you judge things as right or wrong?
• What really matters in your life? What gives you a sense of meaning and purpose?

2) INTEGRITY AND AUTHENTICITY
A strong inner compass enables us to act with integrity and authenticity. It is related to trust and honesty, a top  characteristic of admired leaders.

Challenges: If we are not clear about where our inner compass is pointing , we may act inconsistently. We might worry if we can show up as our true selves at work.

Reflection Questions:

• Are you practicing what you preach? Are you walking your own talk?
• Do you trust you can be "your self " at work?

3) SELF-AWARENESS
Every change process starts with (self-)awareness. Beyond the obvious (e.g., strengths and weaknesses), outstanding leaders are also aware of their emotions and bodily sensations. They are aware of how these impact them and their interactions with others.

Challenges: As with the inner compass, building awareness may not be seen as a priority. When people do not know about the underlying biology, emotions and bodily sensations may be ridiculed as esoteric nonsense .  Some may be afraid of what they might find when they start some self-exploration.

Reflection Questions:

• How aware am I of my self?
• How aware am I of my emotions ?
• How do these emotions impact me and how can I regulate them productively?
• How aware am of my body's signals (interoception) and can I interpret these signals in a useful way?
• How do other people perceive me?

4) PRESENCE
The ability to be in the here and now and in a sate of open-ended presence.  The quality of our presence is of critical importance particularly in our interactions with others.

Challenge: We have too many things on our minds. We may think that multi-tasking is more efficient than staying  focused on just one task. 

Reflection Questions:

• How able am I to be in the here and now without thinking what's next?
• How able am I to make a connection with another person ?
• How present can I stay with a task or a person beyond just a few seconds? 

5) OPENNESS and LEARNING MINDSET
Having a basic mindset of curiosity and a willingness to be vulnerable and embrace change and grow.
 
Challenge: Past successes seem to confirm that our way is the right way. It can be challenging to question our own values and beliefs

Reflection Questions:

• How open am I to ways of working (simple) or world views (huge!) that are different from mine?
• Am I willing to challenge my values and guiding principles that I have lived by for decades?
• Finally: In my current role, can I be my best self and how does being my best self look like?

More info: secondcrackleadership.com