Stepping up, priming and listening in

2024 is nearly out. The year has flown.

It’s been a busy year. I travelled extensively for work and a couple of leisure travels. My writing got disrupted as a result. But this year I slowed my writing down from weekly to fortnightly. (I must say I miss the discipline or ritual of writing weekly). 😉

This is my last article for this year and hence a slightly longer one!

Having reflected on the year here are 3 highlights I wish to share:

1.       STEPPING UP

I am currently on a client project working with their senior and mid-level management team. It is interesting how even at a more senior level many ask what to do when their ‘bosses’ are away.

I was a little taken aback to hear that, and it reminded me of my leadership baptism of fire working with the Dutch. I learned and grew the most working with the Dutch in my initial years. The Dutch are straight shooters and do not sugarcoat their words. They can sound harsh but there is nothing personal in their approach. Just cutting to the chase and getting things done for the greater good of the team, organisation, client and more.

In my mid-twenties, whilst working as a project manager on a critical client project, after many long days, my Dutch boss asked me, “if you die tonight, will your team still perform as well (without you)?”.

We were going live that morning, at 1.30 am my boss asked me the question.

I was so exhausted I did not know whether to laugh or cry. But after the initial shock, my answer was “no, there are things in my head that my team don’t know.”

“Correct that tomorrow please”, said my boss.

That exchange changed my life. I was never attached to my job or role after. I learned that I was dispensable and that my team needed to perform as well without me. I felt a sense of liberation.

We may need to step up to fill the gap when necessary.

If you lead people, what can you do to make it easier for your team to step up when you are not around?

2.       PRIMING THE BRAIN FOR CHANGE

This year I delivered my flagship programme – “Priming the Brain for Change” several times and it was very well received by clients. The foundation of this programme is built on how the brain is wired at its core. Although each of us is unique our brain is designed to behave in a certain way. I bring this knowledge to leaders so we can have better, more effective outcomes.

The premise is that we can use this design to prime our brains for change. Most organisations want to effect change in some way. For the organisation to change, its people need to change too. Change at the individual or people level is new habit formation.

And the brain does this well, but it can be helped by ‘priming’ it.

By priming I mean cueing the brain for whatever I want to change. And the magic lies in small, continuous steps toward our goal. I place notes on my office wall about things I want my brain to ‘notice’ to make it easier to action, repeatedly.

Or simply place an object in your eyes view. Just last week, I placed my vacuum cleaner outside my bedroom to cue my brain to clean. Ok, it took a few days, but I got it done this morning! 😉

What small, continuous steps can you take every day to achieve a goal? Remember, the brain prefers progress over perfection.

3.       LISTENING IN

And finally, for our brains to work well our bodies need to be ok. I always check in on my body whenever I want to know how I am doing.

My work this month has been quite intense compounded by a long drive to the client site. I noticed after the first week my resting heart rate was a little elevated. I could feel it, I didn’t have to measure it.

I gave my breathing extra focus and learned to manage my energy better during my client deliveries. It certainly helped as my heart rate is lower now.

The body matters as much as the brain, if not more. I have written about this recently. Here’s the link!

How are you, particularly your body? Are you listening in for clues it is giving you?

These are my key reflections for 2024. I hope it has been a year of learning and growth for you too! I wish you all the very best and catch you in the new year.

Thank you for reading and giving me feedback. It is much appreciated.

As always, you can reach me at yoga@yoganesadurai.com