Beginning your day by thinking about the kind of leader you want to be may make you more effective in the workplace, a new analysis finds.
“It’s as simple as taking a few moments in the morning while you’re drinking your coffee to reflect on who you want to be as a leader,” said Remy Jennings, a doctoral student in the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business, who authored the study in the journal Personnel Psychology with UF management professor Klodiana Lanaj.
When research participants took that step, they were likely to report helping co-workers and supplying strategic vision than on days they didn’t do the morning manifestation. In addition they felt more leader like on these days, perceiving more power and influence at the office.
The effects also stretched to aspiring leaders.
“Leadership is really challenging, so a lot of people are hesitant to tackle leadership roles or assignments,” Lanaj said. “Reflecting a few minutes in the morning really makes a difference.”
And unlike being given extra leadership responsibility or contributing a team job, a morning reflection is under the employee’s control.
“They’re not dependent on their organization to provide formal opportunities. They don’t have to wait until they have that title that says they’re a leader to take on leadership in their work,” Jennings said.
Want to try out a morning leadership boost? Here are a few prompts recommended by the researchers.
* Which are some of your proudest leadership minutes?
* What qualities do you have which make you a fantastic leader, or will in the future?
* Consider who you aspire to be a pioneer, then imagine what’s gone as well as it possibly could in this leader function. What exactly does that look like?
* What impact would you want on your employees? Do you want to motivate them? Inspire them? Identify and develop their own abilities? What skills or characteristics do you have that can assist with those goals?
Whether you’re the boss or on your way up the ladder, “this is a tool to be more effective at work.” Lanaj said. “Just a few minutes can entirely change your focus for the rest of your day.”
Related Journal Article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/peps.12447