If the nature of Self is happiness and freedom, why wouldn’t the nature of leadership be happiness and freedom?
Here are three leadership principles to help you align your leadership with the nature of Self, your True Self:
- Leadership is overcoming yourself in service to humanity.
- Leadership is your ability to experience all emotions and still act in the most noble way.
- Collect the most inspiring people you know and give them the freedom to express themselves.
Leadership is overcoming yourself in service to humanity
The nature of Self is, well, selfless. The “me” character and its commentary on reality are illusory. The first recognition is that being selfless or altruistic is not a leadership practice; it is the nature of your being. Many leadership development strategies focus on the growth of the leader, but I suggest that you take the focus off of yourself and direct it towards the service of others. Overcoming yourself in service to others means that you are no longer seeking your own growth, so you become a better leader, but growth naturally happens when you immerse yourself in service to others. It is not the kind of service you choose because “I want to be of service.” Being of service is another quality of our True Self that naturally extends itself in service as it has no personal “me” to take care of.
What is more important, dealing with discomfort or serving others even if you are uncomfortable?
Leadership is your ability to experience all emotions and still act in the most noble way
Leading from your True Self doesn’t mean not experiencing a reaction toward the present situation and not rejecting it either. Whatever arises in your experience- thoughts, sensations, emotions, and beliefs- is welcomed. Without naming them positive or negative, good or bad, it is just your experience. Trying to push away or alternate your experience will never be an effective use of your efforts. Instead, grow your capacity to act from your True Self, in the most noble way you can access, in whatever experience is present!
Collect the most inspiring people you know and give them the freedom to express themselves
Coming from your True Self, leadership is no longer a function full of effort, challenges, and responsibilities. Rather, a creative and intuitive process with the ability to act on whatever is present. Think of a fine martial artist; whatever you’d throw in her way, she would be able to act with elegance and effortlessness. In the current business, leadership, and high-performance space, hard work and effort are often worshiped, but that’s an amateur game. A skillful leader and professional is the one putting the least amount of effort into the desired outcome. Hard work is for the ego. The ego loves the euphoria of exhaustion because it’s the only time it can rest without judging itself for being lazy. It derives its worth from effort and hardships. Effortlessness and ease are for the masters.
The nature of Self is freedom and creative expression, so the nature of your leadership shall follow. Once you do, leadership becomes the simple creative, intuitive, and effortless process of collecting the most inspiring people you know and giving them the freedom to express themselves.
Who are the most inspiring people you know?
Forward this blog post to them and invite them to join your vision!
Remember, you act on inspiration when it comes! Don’t let the mind’s filter kick in.
With heart,
Gil·ad (eternal-joy)
