Leadership: a time for everything

Much like in parenting, there are different phases in leadership. Let’s be clear: when you become a parent, you are parent forevermore. Well, once a leader always a leader! The job is far from static, though. As children grow, parenting roles change and you change with them. Where it really hits home is when a child graduates and leaves home. The independence of a child means an empty nest feeling for the parents. You may or may not have reached that stage–beware! Whether or not you feel good about your children’s achievements, the empty nest is a mixed feeling. You are losing a part of yourself! This may also be an exciting opportunity to rediscover who you are beside a mother-father figure, and relate to your child as a human being.

As I witnessed some of our leaders retire this summer, I noticed the feeling of disorientation facing their new freedom. I hear the feeling of losing a part of themselves, having somehow forgotten along the way that behind a leader lies an individual. This is a time to rediscover themselves. They often leave expressing pride in their teams and assuring them of their support, offering their coordinates and remaining open to hearing from those who wish to reach out. I want to say: Hurray! This is an exciting time to rediscover the true leader inside: the essence of one’s leadership.

Much like spouses with more leisure time on their hands in an empty nest, who may need to relearn how to be best friends and lovers, leaders may need to rediscover their relationship to themselves and what made them a leader in the first place, in order to move forward. And what might that be? It is a time and place of enquiry. It is about reconnecting with one’s purpose, creating a new platform, and tapping into one’s own source of energy for impact. It is often about giving back to the community we served and the family who supported us.

Do you want to know more about the essence of your own leadership? Look at my Creative Leadership Program on the left column and let’s connect at isabellefrancoisbe@gmail.com