Teachers Thriving Issue #2 | Page 53

Think back over the last few weeks and look for times when you felt emotionally balanced when dealing with your many priorities. Reflect on what contributed to this state. In contrast, look for a situation when your reaction may have been somewhat off balance. Search for the triggers that caused this reaction. This reflection process is a way to become more self-aware, thus enabling a focus on how to regulate reactions and behaviours. Self-awareness and self-regulation are cornerstones of emotional intelligence, which in my experience is the key attribute of truly great leaders. Undertaking one of the many recognised tools for assessment of emotional intelligence can add value to personal understanding, bringing an opportunity to focus on areas for development.

Leadership is a very important and challenging balancing act. Once the balance of leadership behaviours is mastered, harmony, symmetry and calmness will be the basis for developing truly high performing teams in the workplace. Leaders who display this level of mastery bring authenticity, and an aura that builds loyalty, commitment and creates a fabulous organisational culture.

How might a leader reflect on their individual leadership balance and take steps to develop the attributes to master the behaviours?

LEADERSHIP is a very important and challenging BALANCING ACT.