Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to high sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, and building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.
—Peter Drucker
Are you a weekend warrior? Most of us look forward to the weekends and the time we can spend with our families and sports, books, running errands, etc. However, have you ever thought that weekends are the best time for you to learn to be a leader? I realized this long ago because I write my most extended chapters between Friday and Sunday evenings.
Weekend represents a time of reflection to me unless I am running from one event to another without a more extended break. In such cases, while I love seeing my family, it makes my typical workday seem peaceful. No one is physically pulling me anywhere; I can sit down and work on the tasks outlined. It has not always been like this. I have been stressed out and in constant escalation mode, where the work never stopped.
What changed? Firstly, I am introverted to the extent that I gain energy from a degree of exposure to other people. Live events are heavy – and it would take a more extroverted person to come back feeling energized from F2F events. I feel grateful but exhausted. So, currently, I am staying in a remote workplace. Not because I want to – but because I must.
I am much more introverted now than before, and my health requires a balanced energy. What it means is that I take my planning much more seriously; I need to know where to go and when.
1.) Set your goal and backward engineer from it: I set the beacon (event) in my calendar and decide what actions precede the day – i.e. How much I can include to optimize my energy. The events are hard milestones; whether private or company events does not matter because there is only one me and a reserved amount of energy. Depending on how critical the events are for my family or career, I prioritize one over the other. I have not had any clashes since I started this approach.
2.) Be flexible on your way to your goal. Let’s say that I had two family events on the weekend and an important meeting on Monday at work. I would lock in one family event, decline the other, and ready myself for the work event. If, in case, something changes, I let people know in private events that I am a go/no-go on the day of the event. I attend if I have the necessary energy. Someone recently asked me, can you do that? Yes, it’s not the best, but for me, it’s a must. I cannot tell how I feel until the day arrives. If you are transparent about your situation, people understand. I avoid ‘no-shows’ unless necessary.
3.) Be mindful of introverted people around you. First of all, we need more recharging time in the online world. I have had managers who did not understand this at all. And many people in my life still presume things inaccurately because I am visible online. I live an online life. As an introvert, a certain amount of exposure is fun and motivating. I train myself constantly on how to use new tools, design thinking, and collaboration in the Age of A.I. As a leader, do you know if your team members are introverts, and to what degree? If you don’t – get that evaluation done for yourself and others. Introverts will always be loyal and discreet; you are already at a crossroads when they voice a concern! We say our minds when it’s time to make a decision.
4.) Take the time to listen. A typical introvert is analytical and considers each statement and question carefully. Many people repeat their questions to me because they think I did not hear them. In fact, I am processing their question like a sphere, rotating the possible outcomes in my head 360 degrees before I answer. I also do not write in real-time collaboration but in solitude and then seek a second and third opinion. To learn from an introvert, you need a little patience, but it is worth it because I, like many others, give you weighted answers. I manage my list of priorities depending on my energy flow:
- Fast energy: multiple quick tasks.
- Slow energy: writing, introspection, planning.
And remember: The more nature the better! I go out for walks rain or shine or snow. It is an opportunity to recharge from the original source. “Nature is light. Nature is sound. Nature is movement. Nature is energy. Nature is power.” – Matshona Dhliwayo
So now, this me, the weekend warrior, will close out this blog. When the weekend comes, I will work on my next anthology story for the Mission Hope program, led by my dear friend Char Murphy. Greetings from Finland!
P.S. If you haven’t purchased a Mission Hope, Volume 2, copy as a gift – the extraordinary Amazon bestseller is available here: https://a.co/d/0F3QVER
Interesting Articles about introverts:
I liked this article which I find very close to what I always support on this topic.
Being an introvert or an extrovert definitely doesn’t define someone’s entire personality, but still, these are characteristics that greatly influence our lives and how other people perceive us. There’s no one right way to be when it comes to these categories, but sometimes it seems that general opinion is inclined to love extroverts more.
On the other hand, an introvert is a more reserved person who may feel exhausted by social interactions and needs time alone to recharge. No one is completely extroverted and introverted, but as I said before, a part is always more visible in someone’s personality.
And, I guarantee, there are things that offer a particular beauty to the life of an introvert.
Both extroverts and introverts have their own unique qualities and place in the world. The most important thing is to be authentic and try to find our version of happiness.