How Leaders Can Give the Gift of a Mentoring Mindset
Our 31-Day Extraordinary Leader's "Give the Gift Of..." Challenge
December can be one of the most challenging and frustrating months of the year for leaders in the best of times. This year, it is even more difficult! Why? We combine all the year-end business wrap-up with regular monthly goals to achieve, then add in the emotional and productivity fall-out associated with all the crises and changes from the year. There are also expectations of special activities and food sprinkled with the tight-wire act of creating a holiday spirit without stepping on the toes of anyone, plus making decisions about a holiday party (live or virtual ... do it at all?) and gift-giving issues -- not to mention the additional pressures your employees are feeling related to family expectations, financial challenges, and potential powder kegs surrounding the various ways in which people honor events of December; then add in your personal needs of tackling crowded malls (or technology-burdened websites) to do your own shopping, dealing with your family expectations, and personal celebration events -- need I say more? No matter what business you're in, December usually involves an over-abundance of additional activities that triggers stress and frustration -- and we can "lose it" as a leader if we're not careful.
That's why we created a special challenge for the month of December, designed to refocus your thinking and ground you in the power of an Extraordinary Leadership Giving Consciousness. It ties in with the Extraordinary Leadership Core Ability of a Mentoring Mindset, and will go a long way toward creating a positive, powerful, engaging December for you and your team. We are pleased to share our annual "Give the Gift of ..." 31-day Challenge for Extraordinary Leaders!
Your Giving Challenge Package includes the Challenge Calendar, Directions for using it, and a special Journal page designed for you to copy and capture your experiences with the challenge. There are Reflection Questions includes.
We invite you to use this with your entire team, and encourage you to download and print copies for everyone! Imagine the difference when everyone on the team is practicing their Giving Consciousness!
How to Take the Challenge
For every day in December, we have identified a rather vague and undefined focus area. During your morning reflection time (if you don't have a morning personal reflection time, now is a great time to start), decide what the focus area means to you. Consider what leadership skills are tied to the particular focus of the day, and what specific ways you can give to your team members, colleagues, vendors, and others with whom you work. (Note: You can also take the focus area home with you, and continue the giving in other ways with your family and friends. This stuff works everywhere!)
Using your own definition(s) for the focus area, find as many ways as possible to give it during the day. Your goal is to find at least one opportunity to give, connected with the focus area of the day, for every waking hour! Be as creative as you want!
We encourage you to keep a journal, where every day you record the ways you found to give, along with your emotions and experiences. Here are some self-reflection questions to help you get the most out of the experience:
- How many different ways did you find to give? Did your giving ideas extend to each and every employee you manage?
- What was the most unique?
- What was the most fun?
- What was the most challenging?
- How did this Giving Challenge affect you emotionally? What impact did you notice it having on those around you? How did it impact you as a leader?
- What leadership lessons can you take away from this activity that will stay with you as you move forward into the new year?
BONUS
LEADERSHIP
ACTIVITY!
Make copies of the "Give the Gift of ..." calendar and share the challenge with others on your team. It can generate very interesting discussions that strengthen team relationships!
Never forget this powerful truth:
Cher Holton
As an Extraordinary Leader, the greatest and most powerful gift you can ever give is the gift of yourself!
