“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.”
― Vincent van Gogh
Do you have the strength to accomplish your purpose? Do you strengthen others to complete a mission? Strength is essential for leadership. The definition of mission is an important goal or purpose that is accomplished by strong conviction. Leadership is about directing a way to a change for the better. Each day is full of challenges and opportunities that takes strength to pursue. Below are three components of strength that you can apply to your life today.
A Place or Means of Safety
We feel strength when we are in a place of safety, protection or refuge. My children were sometimes hesitant to try a new piece of challenging playground equipment. However, if I stood by to be a “safety net” for them, their strength would grow to boldly try new things. As I showed joy and excitement, their joy grew as they stepped out and did something new.
A leader infuses strength when they provide a place where others feel safe to try new things, to fail and to learn. Being joyful and encouraging joy in others can add to this strength in safety. As a leader, do you provide a place of safety? Do others know that you have their back when facing a challenge? Do you emanate joy?
Renewal in Power and Might
We have strength when we feel powerful, mighty and vigorous. We feel powerful when we have choices and the ability to impact the future. A victim mindset happens when we feel powerless and without hope. This has been studied through psychological experiments in learned helplessness theory. Without hope, we become depressed and give up.
A leader infuses strength, when they empower others and provide hope. As a leader, you first need to renew your own strength through hope. How do you need to encourage yourself? Do you see others around you giving up? Where can you give them choices and ownership? Are you inspiring hope?
Being Eminently Able
Our strength is increased when we feel the ability to accomplish. We feel able to make things happen. I recently was providing feedback to a successful leader based on input given from team members. The most common comment was that the team members felt support and cared for by this leader. They felt “loved” and this team was accomplishing much.
A leader helps others to be able to accomplish what they need to do. A leader listen to teammates’ needs and then helps them to remove obstacles. They also provide resources to help projects move forward. Through this, teammates feel “loved” or cared for. This renews their strength. How are you providing ways for others to feel able?
In summary, seek to renew your strength and the strength of others. Where can you provide safety with an attitude of joy? How can you renew the strength of others through empowering and giving hope? Where can you help others to accomplish what they need to do by showing love?