What images come to mind when you think of a leader? Do you imagine a visionary who has attached a large following? Or do you connect the idea of leadership to certain job titles? Perhaps you only define yourself as a leader if you have people reporting to you. I think it is quite common to see leaders as those out in front or at the top of an organization.
Recently I had a chance to discuss the book Co-Active Leadership: Five Ways to Lead with a mentoring team I am part of. We have been exploring our leadership styles in order to expand our capacity as mentors.
Co-Active Leadership takes a stand for expanding our definition of leadership and defines five ways to lead:
- Leader Within – Living from the inside out rather than the outside in
- Leader In Front – generating connection and inspiration
- Leader Behind – generous, openhearted service to others
- Leader Beside – leaning in 100 percent
- Leader In the Field – Letting go of what is known and proven
“Leader Within” lies at the centre of these five ways to lead. The authors Karen and Henry Kimsey-House state that leading from within “begins with the choice to live one’s life from the inside out rather than the outside in.” It becomes the foundation for all the other ways of leading.
Co-Active Leadership requires attention to be paid to both “doing” and “being.”
In terms of “doing” it is important for leaders to clarify their personal values. When I work with coaching clients we begin the engagement by articulating their core values, which can be things like passion, growth, integrity or authenticity. These values create the foundation for everything that comes after.
Let’s imagine a fundraiser working for a social services agency identifies passion as one of their values. They may realize that they are not fully living that value at work. They can explore ways to bring this value into the light. They may realize that they feel most passionate when they are connected to the people served by their agency. They may decide to take a new donor on an agency tour. This helps the fundraiser reconnect to their passion by meeting the end user and also by seeing the impact of the work through the fresh eyes of this donor.
In terms of “being” it is important for leaders to accept themselves and let go of limiting beliefs. It can feel like a paradox to accept ourselves fully and to want more for ourselves. This is the inner work of leading from within.
For me starting my day with meditation is an important part of this inner work. It allows me to access my true self and get grounded each day. It also allows me to simply notice my thoughts and allow them to pass. To understand that I am not my thoughts.
Remember that leading from within forms the core for all other ways of leading. What will you do to live your life from the inside out?
Janice Cunning is a Leadership Coach who is passionate about partnering with fundraisers to help them create an inspired vision that transforms lives. She is a Certified Relationship Awareness Facilitator who uses SDI to strengthen team dynamics.