There are many sayings for welcoming the energizing season of spring, which has arrived for those of us who live in the northern hemisphere. These words include:

“Nothing seems impossible in spring, you know.”- L.M. Montgomery

“When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest.”- Ernest Hemingway

“The deep roots never doubt spring will come.”- Marty Rubin

“Spring is the time of plans and projects.”- Leo Tolstoy

As leaders move into this new season of budding and growth, they have the opportunity to make course corrections in their daily work routines and even generate adjustments to the annual goals they may have set back at the beginning of the year. For example, working in our hybrid environments may have changed our perspectives on our projects as we return to some days in our offices. Perhaps, we can form more collaborations and brainstorming sessions that are more organic. We don’t have to wait for a virtual meeting to see team members’ faces.

Spring can also be a great time for a redo of a conversation that may have not gone as well as we intended. We may feel empowered to revisit some of the issues that were not ironed out completely and discover new ways to address them. Don’t get stuck in the winter mindset and instead let your leadership bloom in spring.

Here are five leadership jumps into spring:

1. Assess Your Mental Health

The first step to jump into spring is reflecting on how you are feeling. Ask yourself, “Where am I in this uncertain journey of the pandemic?” For some leaders, they have survived, but barely. They are facing multiple family challenges and possibly losses. Be kind and truthful about what you are able to accomplish moving forward. If you are not steady with your emotions, it’s ok. Turning for help is totally acceptable and encouraged.

2. Review Your Daily Routines- In and Out of The Office

This next jump is evaluating our daily routines in order to understand how to march into our spring phase of work. It is important for leaders to take a deep dive into their daily routines and focus on these issues:

• What is changing in my job?
• What is changing in my personal life?
• Are there people I will need to call on to help me be successful? What do my support systems look like and are they adequate?

3. Pull Out Your Annual Goals

The work environment and the world are changing quickly by the day and that may mean revisiting the goals we set back in January. Have your priorities changed? Do you need to spend more time on a different assignment and put off another one? Do your goals even make sense at this point? The best strategy to jump into spring is to have a clear vision of your goals and how you will accomplish them.

4. Set Up Conversations To Decide Next Steps

This is no time to be shy or function in a silo. Strong leaders will reach out to bosses and colleagues to realign the direction they need to take. I have seen dreadful silos formed when we forget about the people around us. Speak up and make sure to ask for help with:

• Establishing clear and specific goals.
• Understanding the bigger picture of where your organization is headed. Don’t assume you know.
• Learning new processes or procedures that may have changed during these past years.

5. Send Appreciation Notes

When leaders are finished regrouping and creating a new path that makes sense for work and their personal lives, showing gratitude is the final jump into spring. Email notes of appreciation to everyone who has helped you regain your footing. By extending thank you’s to people who have helped you jump into “spring”, will uplift you in ways beyond measure.

What jumps will help you grow your leadership this spring?