How to nourish leadership with essential "nutrients" Activity 26 07

Image: Food rich in micromineral selenium

Here is feedback on today’s “serving” with this quiz

What would you do as leader in this scenario?

You continuously challenge your team to keep on improving. Your innovative mindset can be considered as an asset in the team, because it involves looking for new opportunities and observing things from optimistic perspectives. Which one of these practical steps will you take in the process?

Seek ideas for improvement OR Create opportunities for improvement

FEEDBACK

If you chose: “Seek ideas for improvement”

It is necessary to have innovative ideas for improvement, but real improvement comes from "doing" and not only from having ideas

If you chose: “Create opportunities for improvement”

This is an appropriate response! An innovative mindset is considered as an asset in the team since it involves looking for new opportunities and observing things from optimistic perspectives. An innovative leadership mindset looks at all trends to create opportunities that serve organizational development and innovation.

This quiz is just a “taster” of a lot more fun-filled practical learning activities. See below.

Why challenging leadership?

Just like the human body needs the micromineral selenium, every work unit needs leaders who challenge team members and the way they work.

Selenium is an essential micromineral which helps protect cells from damage, regulate thyroid function, support immune health, and aid in reproduction and DNA synthesis. As an essential antioxidant, it works as part of selenoproteins to shield the body from oxidative stress, while also playing a crucial role in the proper production of thyroid hormones. Oxidative stress is an imbalance in the body between free radicals and antioxidants, leading to cell and tissue damage. Free radicals are unstable oxygen-containing molecules with an uneven number of electrons that can cause harmful chemical reactions throughout the body. If there aren't enough antioxidants to neutralize these free radicals, they damage cellular components like DNA, lipids, and proteins. This damage is a factor in aging and the development of chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

In the same way can challenging leadership protect the work unit against stagnation and deterioration and stimulate healthy growth and longevity.

“Without a doubt, world of work is changing faster than before, which requires leadership to improve in fundamental ways to keep the team effective. Visionary leadership is a strategic tool for sustainability and development. Visionary leadership creates a vision that shows a sense of direction, organizes a change, and implements plans through the actions of team members. To drive this never-ending effort in pursuit of continuous improvement at a personal level, and in the way the team works, team leaders must challenge themselves, their team members, and all comfort zones. Therefore, team leaders must learn how to challenge assertively without causing any harm to individuals or the system”

Derived from research article by Bayan Yousef Farhan, College of Business, Department of Business Administration, Al Ain University, UAE

How to develop and practice challenging leadership

Every leader should do this

Just like the human body needs a regular portion of essential nutrients like micromineral selenium to stay healthy, every leader needs a regular reminder and fresh exercise in developing essential leadership dimensions like challenging leadership.

Do what successful people do

World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee Ethan Hooker ascribes his success to “Just always have something on your mind that you want to work on and better yourself. Get addicted to almost bettering yourself every day”

You must continuously be reminded of all the leadership functions and keep on learning how to make the essential dimensions part of your being in a leadership role

Take these steps now

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• Click here to get access to the full “buffet” of short, practical online learning activities. Then go to AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP 26 where you can do the module “26 07 Challenge leadership” to develop a full understanding and learn how to apply it in your everyday life, making this essential dimension part of your being as a leader.
• Nominate your team leaders and supervisors at admin@protalent.co.za

Our learning and development activities are derived from recent scientific research. Our interactive modules are quick to complete, deeply impactful and translates complex leadership concepts and principles into understandable and useful strategies for everyone to use in the workplace and in their personal lives, making learners more effective in leading teams, enhancing personal wellness and refining interpersonal skills. Learners develop a comprehensive understanding of essential leadership dimensions, they learn how to apply it in simulations as well as the real work environment, coupled with coaching feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Written by Principal Coach at the Academy for Practical Leadership Development

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