How do you stay focused and energized as a leader?

SMART goals are what make you stay focused. The moment you feel overwhelmed or distracted; you go back and look at your goals to stay back on track!

With a SMART objective you will have a clearly road map of the steps you need to take you and your team. Great leader communicate the goals clear to their team and motivate them towards keeping themselves on the right track to achieve them. In my opinion, the T in SMART is a key catalyst in keep the leader and team motivated and focused.

As far as you have set your goals in mind, energy comes from within, Clearer the goals are, more focused is your vision towards achieving those, and that too surely doesn't let you sit ;)

At the outset of any project, setting clear goals is paramount. It provides a roadmap for success and aligns the team's efforts towards a common objective. By establishing roles, responsibilities, and expectations upfront, we empower our teams to deliver their best work. Let's kickstart every project with a strong foundation and a shared vision for success! 💡🚀

Success hinges on tangible, targeted goals. SMART transforms broad visions into actionable paths. More than to-do lists; they're strategic blueprints. With a deadline, goals gain urgency, pushing leaders to act decisively. Breaking down a grand ambition into smaller steps is a practical psychological boost, turning distant peaks into approachable milestones. Measurement isn’t a formality, but a navigation tool, guiding and recalibrating the journey. And in a team, clear, focused goals aren’t optional. They are the compass aligning every effort. As variables shift, strategies adapt, ensuring progress remains uninterrupted. SMART goals are more than targets; they're a dynamic, evolving map, directing each step with precision and purpose.

Planning your day is key to maintaining productivity as a leader. However, it can become a stressor and not a helpful tool if not done with enough honesty about how much time your tasks and your people will need from you. Additionally, if you neglect taking care of yourself in your plan as well (bio breaks, lunch breaks, down time). By making a good plan and then communicating it out by using your calendar to block out time needed for different tasks (whether it be actual work or supporting your team) you increase your likelihood of success. If the day goes awry, that's okay. Plans are meant to change, get back to it the next day.

As I plan my day, I also visualizing how I want to show up to each task. I spend a few minutes thinking about outcomes and how I will react to them. This ‘deciding ahead of time’ activity pays off by not only making sure that I show up to my schedule, but that I show up with the best energy.

Prioritize effective time management by starting each day with a thorough review of emails and tasks. This helps me set clear goals and allocate time efficiently. It also allows me to remain accessible to my team for questions and guidance, ensuring a balanced focus on both my responsibilities and their needs. This approach helps me stay motivated and energized throughout the day, benefiting both my personal growth and our team's success.

One common mistake to avoid is waiting to plan your day until the morning. It's much better to have a clear plan before going to sleep. The reason is that even though you may commit to creating a clear plan in the morning, you are more likely to enter the "reactive" mode by default. We've all been there. You assume you will set a clear direction in the morning but end up confused about the biggest priorities and productivity traps to avoid. As a result, you may find yourself procrastinating on the key (and often uncomfortable) tasks & putting off small fires instead of taking charge and doing what's truly important. Hence, waking up with complete clarity as to what deserves your attention is so powerful (and improves your sleep as a bonus).

Planning your day is a great way to stay on top of tasks and ahead of deadlines. I love to block off my calendar to schedule times to complete specific tasks, so that I can focus on each task and let others know what I’m working on. I also keep more than one to-do list on me, one written and one digital, to help maximize the space I have and to ensure I always have one around since I’m hybrid and I do a lot of back and forth. Good organization is one of the greatest keys to success and to help prevent you from overworking or falling behind on tasks especially if you have a lot of responsibilities.

It is absolutely critical to take breaks. Pre-planned breaks throughout the day to keep your mental, physical, and emotional energy high enough to serve your team. Ensure you have movement in your day (not only to keep you productive, but to protect your health long term) and you are getting adequate fuel (not just caffeine ;) but healthy calories too). By ensuring you are caring for yourself well, you will not only be better able to meet the needs of your team but you will be leading my example so your team has permission to care for themselves as well. A healthy and happy team, is a productive team.

Taking breaks and creating room for boredom are some the underrated ways to stay focused and energized as leaders. Adequate rest and breaks not only replenish the body and mind, they also create space for boredom. And with boredom, comes creativity; and with creativity, comes innovation. Modeling the habits of taking breaks and prioritizing rest also signals to teams that their self-care and wellbeing are important to their leader. This helps the team avoid burnout and remain energized. Remember, rest is productive.

A significant challenge right now is dealing with burnout. Time & effort spent in actions designed to avoid burnout - once there (in burnout) it's too late (or will take more time to overcome). Being deliberate in taking breaks is essential. The act of taking breaks when needed for "you" is crucial, everyone needs too determine what is necessary for themselves to stay fresh and productive. Breaks throughout the day, healthy eating, staying active, getting enough sleep, all are required for a leader to stay healthy and energized. A second win is that employees working for/with you will start to follow your example and pick up these healthy habits, becoming more energized and avoiding burnout resulting in a more productive workforce.

Your mental and physical health are huge factors in staying focused and energized throughout the day. Physical activity has been proven to increase levels of serotonin and dopamine as well as improve memory and reduce anxiety, so making time for that at some point during the day has really helped me.

Engines need a break to cool down and run full speed again. The same is applicable to your brain! Don't underestimate the power of a break. It is what enables you to maintain your energy and focus throughout your day. Don't forget to lead by example and encourage your team to follow you steps.

Whenever you say YES to something in your business, you automatically decrease your capacity to pursue alternatives. Hence, learning to say NO to things that don't move the needle, is crucial. When you become very selective about which activities are truly worth your time, you will regain control and space as a leader. Reclaiming that extra capacity and clarity of mind will give you the breathing room to identify (and say YES to) significantly bigger opportunities that could otherwise be missed due to overwhelm.

An example of one way to say no politely as a leader: After careful consideration, I'd like to discuss some alternative approaches that could work better for both of us. While I cannot move forward with [original proposal], I believe we can explore options that align with our goals. How about we [suggest an alternative approach]? This would allow us to [explain the benefits of the alternative]. I'm also open to considering [mention another suggestion] as a potential compromise. Let's collaborate to find a solution that not only meets our needs but also maintains the positive energy you bring to the table.

It requires high level of maturity to say NO, simple two letter word. I get delighted when one of my team or a colleague say NO, I am busy with that or No, I have a lot on my plate. This creates an environment of optimized time management where everyone respects others' time. Creates the need of prioritization and proper planning.

Learning to say "no" is an important skill that can help you establish personal boundaries: 1. Establish your personal boundaries. Knowing your limits and what you are and aren't comfortable with is key to saying "no" when necessary. 2. Be aware of potential persuasion techniques. People may try to use guilt or comparison to get you to change your mind. Remember you don't owe anyone anything and it's okay to say "no." 3. Practice saying "no." Saying "no" can be difficult, so practice with a friend or in front of the mirror to help you gain confidence. 4. Give a clear "no" when the time comes. You can soften the blow with a compliment or gratitude, but ultimately, it's important to be firm when turning down a request.

Learning to say no is a immensely valuable skill to have, yet is one of the most difficult to execute. Too often we find ourselves wanting to say yes to everything to keep our business moving, but having the discernment and discipline to turn down something is important. A tool I learned to help with this is by taking 5 minutes and 5 clear breaths before giving a yes or a no proposed to you. This helps you, but also may let others provide insight you may not be thinking of that can help you discern the right thing to do.

Feedback helps you to understand how you are perceived by others. This is critical for leaders to be able to improve their skills. Asking for feedback from direct reports & and colleagues not only provides insights but encourages them to provide more input as they feel safe!

Become a sponge. Changes are dynamic and ever-changing. To deal with those changes it is imperative to constantly learn and grow with a never-done mindset. Becoming a sponge is soaking in all the information you can, challenging the status quo, being curious, or starting a dialogue with a peer for a fresh perspective. If you can accept that you will never understand everything and that you can always grow and learn it will benefit you in the long run and allow you to remain curious.

Feedback is not a one way street, you'll have to be prepared to listen and and act on it as well. A lot of leaders fall into the trap of just asking feedback without actually listening for the sake of ticking a box required by the management. Seek feedback, actively listen, and speak back!

Here's a counter-intuitive approach to learning from feedback that has been instrumental in my business journey. As ego-driven humans, we tend to seek constructive criticism from people we get along with as subconsciously, we understand that they will be "gentle" with us. However, one of the most powerful yet utterly uncomfortable things you can do is to seek feedback from those who rub you the wrong way. These people will likely point their fingers where it hurts the most and share the hard truths your blind spots don't allow you to notice. Is receiving feedback like this easy? Certainly not. However, it is one of the best ways to be brutally honest with yourself and grow quickly as a leader.

Regular one to one meetings, round table discussion, open form meetings, internal surveys are all a great setting for seeking feedback. The optimum way to improve your performance as a leader and as a whole team is feedback and control. They direct your focus towards area of improvement and how to build on current success

Each journey has its milestones. How to be a successful and result oriented person, celebrate each and every single one of them. When you encourage yourself and your team through the process, you keep yourself and themselves motivated and focused towards reaching your SMART goals.

Prioritizing tasks, set clear goals, and break them into manageable steps. Establish a routine, delegate effectively, and ensure sufficient breaks for mental recharge. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep contribute to sustained energy. Stay organized, embrace technology for efficiency, and foster a positive work environment. Seek feedback, celebrate achievements, and maintain a healthy work-life balance to sustain long-term leadership effectiveness.

Support support support. Whether internal or external, a great support system can get you through rough periods, empower you and remind you the why. No man or woman for that matter, is an island.

Understand and work with individual differences. People are different, so it's important to understand their strengths and weaknesses. This will help you create a more productive and harmonious team. Be creative and flexible. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership. Be willing to experiment and find new ways to achieve your goals. Don't be afraid to fail. Failure is a part of learning and growth. Embrace it and learn from it. Not to be afraid to experiment. Experimentation is essential for innovation and growth. As a leader, you should be willing to experiment with new ideas and approaches. This may involve taking risks, but it is the only way to find new and better ways of doing things.

In addition to Leadership and time management, teamwork and positive attitude are very supportive skills that keep leaders and team players motivated and united toward their SMART goals. Together Everyone Achieve More

Always ask your team 'How can I serve you better'? You will be amazed at how valuable the responses you will get are! Always remember that you are here to take care of your team; inspire them and make them perform better to serve your organization.

Prioritise Self-Care: When on a plane, flight attendants instruct you to put on your oxygen mask first before assisting others in case of an emergency. This analogy holds true in leadership—taking care of yourself is the foundation upon which you can effectively LEAD. The ancient Romans had a saying, "a healthy mind in a healthy body." This underscores the connection of physical health and mental well-being. Maintaining a sound body is essential for a clear and balanced mind. Just as you invest in your physical health, invest in your mental health. Tools like professional coaching, therapy, and mindfulness can be particularly useful for leaders. A healthy mind and body go hand in hand, so nurturing your mental well-being is paramount.