Rising Like a Phoenix: A Leadership Lesson in Looking Up and Out

Hello KSKOers

I’ve been thinking a lot about perspective lately, especially how important it is to look up and out, and beyond our routines and familiar spaces. This week, I’m sharing some lessons from my own experiences and sharing why looking up and out might be the best advice we can give ourselves to ensure we stay current and ensure our organisations stay relevant in a changing world.

Looking forward to joining you on your learning journey!

Looking Up and Out

It’s been a weird couple of weeks. I’ve found myself back in the job search market, looking for a new opportunity. It’s a time of reflection and re-evaluation. It’s also a time of great freedom and renewal. I feel a bit like a phoenix rising from the ashes! I can revisit my purpose and values without any allegiance to an organisation or loyalty to an employer.

A few years ago I took the StrengthsFinder2.0 assessment and my top five themes were: input, intellection, learner, futuristic and discipline. Last week I leant into my input, learner and futuristic themes, and headed out to meet up with past colleagues, connections and acquaintances. At the end of the week, I reflected and realised the importance of getting out and about and raising your head from your woes to look at the horizon.

You’ll have heard me use the phrase, ‘leaders look up and out and managers look down and in’. I conjured up that phrase in an attempt to capture what it is leaders and managers do, recognising that sometimes we have to do both. It wasn’t really meant as advice or guidance at the time, but actually it also seems to be good advice for people who find themselves in my situation.

Can’t See the Wood for the Trees

I love the metaphor by Stephen Shedletzky who says ‘if you’re a pickle in a jar you can’t see the label on the jar’. It’s only when you get out of the jar do you stand any chance of seeing the label. You have to actively get up and out to…….