This past week I needed to replace my old gas lines with new pipes to connect with an updated system. Although going through the process was a bit uncomfortable, there really was no choice if I no longer wanted water in my gas line. To make this happen, the gas company had to dig deep to locate my current hook-ups and re-trench my property with the new pipes. Holding off was just a temporary solution and a poor choice at that. I had to embrace this total property upheaval if I no longer wanted to lose heat or hot water.

In the same way, we all have busy careers that don’t afford us a lot of time to come up for air and dig deep to discover what kind of leaders we want to be. Even if we don’t want to feel uncomfortable or stressed, we know that we need to constantly grow to be influential leaders. We can delay our thinking about our leadership direction temporarily until we run amuck and realize that we no longer can just swim around in our old thinking and patterns.

[Tweet “To locate our leadership direction we need to dig deep.”]

Today is the day to dig deep to realign your leadership pipeline.

WHAT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?

Before the gas company could upgrade my gas lines, they needed to evaluate what was taking place in my current situation. They needed to fully assess where all the pipes were located and what was causing the water in the line. Similarly, leaders need to make a full evaluation on how their leadership is going today.

• How would you describe you leadership?
• What kinds of places are you leading in?
• Has your leadership evolved? In what way?
• Do you have a leadership mantra that guides you? What is it?

IS THERE ANY NEED FOR A CHANGE AND WHY?

When we conduct an assessment we realize what is going well and what still needs to be tweaked. Additionally, we need to dig deep and identify specifically what isn’t working and why we aren’t feeling successful. For example, if we sense that we aren’t being heard when we speak up in meetings, we need to look at what is causing the disconnection. Sometimes asking a colleague, co-worker or boss can be insightful for us.

WHAT SEEMS FASCINATING OR NECESSARY?

Have you been reading about some intriguing new strategies or ideas that you would want to incorporate into your leadership? Have you received feedback about an area you may want to explore or improve? These kinds of questions can often guide where you want to focus your explorations. Look at areas to strengthen your skills and well as topics that motivate you. Both can provide a wonderful balance in growing forward.

[Tweet “To locate your leadership direction find areas to grow skills as well as your mind.”]

WHAT ARE THE FIRST STEPS?

Create a plan by writing down what you specifically need to change or learn about to follow this new leadership direction.

• List all the changes that seem important or essential
• Choose one or two areas to work on and write out the actions you want to take
• Give timeframes and ways you will measure success
• Choose an accountability partner to help you stay on track

IS THERE A NEED TO GET HELP FROM OTHERS AND WHO?

This is where we need to be brave and assertive. We need to think of who can help us reach our next milestones. We need to dig deep. If we want to learn some new skills or have exposure to a different department in our organization, we need to think of who can set up connections for us. Is there someone who already has the knowledge that we can shadow?

HOW WILL I MEASURE THIS NEW LEADERSHIP DIRECTION?

Finally establish ways to measure your success. How will you know when you are on the right path to your chosen leadership direction? Decide on what your leadership will look like and feel like. Then you will know for sure when you are there.

How do you dig deep to locate your leadership direction?