I had the privilege of attending this years' Aesara Partners Client Summer Event where an experienced and diverse panel discussed the topic of "Walking the Leadership Tightrope"

It was a pleasure getting to catch up colleagues and clients, some that I have met before and those I was meeting for the first time. Nothing beats face to engagement and experiencing human energy in the flesh.

I am now in my second year with Aesara Partners and one of the perks I enjoy is working with leaders who are facing into the challenge of having to do more with fewer resources in an ever-evolving business climate. It can feel like being asked to walk a tightrope while keeping your eyes fixed firmly ahead.

A status quo approach would not do, leaders need to be able to raise awareness of their impact and effectiveness in leveraging the leadership potential of their teams.

The evening was kicked off by Alison, whose witty introduction was informative and vulnerable and set the tone for the discussion that was to come.

The rich mix of industry experience and leadership styles made for an engaging and insightful discussion wonderfully facilitated by Liz. We were treated to personal stories shared with authentic vulnerability, showcasing real-world examples of what successful leadership today looks like.

In my work as a coach, I have found poetry to be a great tool for inspiring reflections that lead to insights that trigger transformation. In this series I will be sharing my poetic reflections on some of the theme covered.

Please add your perspectives and personal experience in the comments below and let's make this a resource for leaders to benefit from.

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Leaders I C U

By Frank Bolaji Irawo

You may think that it's not true

But I really do C U

When I look in the mirror

It's U who looks back at me

The leader in me

When you look in the mirror

Who do you C?

Who stepped up to care

For more than just me?

On whose shoulder do we rise

Who stepped into the space

Between U and me

That is the leader I C

And celebrate in U

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Poetry

By Frank Bolaji Irawo

Poetry powerful, prompt, punchy and precise

Poetry a place to process past and present

Poetry for paving the path to pass between pain and pleasure

Poetry the pit for play with infinite new permutations

Poetry putting together the pieces of your passion and purpose

Poetry the melting pot from which to pour out your potency

Poetry calls, partake of the magic of poetry with me

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Share in the comments below a piece of poetry that inspires you

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It turned out to be a refreshingly pleasant and insightful experience and my gratitude to everyone who played a part in making it possible.

I look forward to continuing the culture of delivery great outcomes to the Aesara client base.

Watch out for the next in the series about leadership gender

This series is back from its unscheduled holiday aka 'life got in the way'. More about that at the bottom of this post.

I have worked in environments where the alpha male leadership energy reigns supreme and is celebrated as the standard to which one can aspire.

The word "Alpha" is the first character of the Greek alphabet. According to the Cambridge dictionary it describes "someone who is strong or powerful, and who likes to be in charge of others"

Reading between the lines, this alludes to an effort to ensure everyone knows who is in charge and the need to present as the smartest one in the room.

If the prevalent pattern of leadership behaviour is fashioned by a 'just get it done' male energy then someone who operate more naturally in a nurturing female energy may subconsciously conform in order to survive and be taken seriously.

When operating exclusively in that energy, your wellbeing and that of those you lead may be compromised as the drive to achieve trumps the human cost.

This is not a male vs female energy conversation, it is about honouring both and recognising that they are best held in balance and context. To care and get the job done without human wellbeing being compromised.

It is about being aware of what is needed and dialling it in, detached from any need to impress others.

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Alpha

By Frank Bolaji Irawo

Top dog

Chest out

Power drunk

Winner takes it all

To level the playing field

The rise of the Alpha female

Huge tackles and crunch

Care and compassion lost

Casualties in their wake

Between Alpha and Omega

Lies the path to balanced leadership

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Share in the comments section below your experience of Alpha male leadership, what are the advantages and disadvantage as you see it

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The previous post in this series explored how male and female energy can coexist to provide a work environment that honours everyone's well-being (see the link in the comments below to catch up). Here, we look at what it means to be authentic in your leadership.

I have been known to be prone to shiny new thing syndrome. I get excited at any new idea that comes along, and before you know it, I'm the expert at it.

Hard for people to get a reading of what you stand for when you are forever flipping and flopping from one thing to the next.

We can be inspired by other people and the results they get but it is not guaranteed that it would work for us in the same way

Comparison is not helpful, as it feeds insecurity; especially when you zero in on your weaknesses and discount your strengths.

As leaders, we set the tone for our teams. When they see us owning who we are, it subconsciously permits them to do the same.

It takes a lot of energy to maintain perceptions, energy best spent being the best version of who you are now.

This is easier when we accept ourselves as we are while holding the possibility of improving.

There is a time to engage, reflect and assimilate so that inspiration manifests in you through your unique way of being.

There is universal wisdom in why we were born original and one that would be betrayed if we persist in living as a copy.

I inspire deep reflection using the power of poetry as part of my coaching practice.

I now own this as my superpower. It will not be for everyone but it is Me! Embracing that is where I am most effective.

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Authenticity

By Frank Bolaji Irawo

You do you

How you do

Let the doing

Speak for you

That you can do

What needs doing

Doing it how you do

With energy to spare

From not doing how they do

Rehashing a poor copy of you

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Share in the comments section below what is your superpower.

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The previous post in this series explored what it means to be authentic in your leadership (see the link in the comments below to catch up). Here, we look at the transition from production to leadership.

Leaders get promoted due to their ability to produce high-quality output and a reputation for getting the job done. It is risky to put that on the line by entrusting others to do the producing so that you can focus on the strategic aspects of your role.

This is something I see often with the Executive directors that I coach. The problem with this approach is that it is not scalable the higher you go in the organisation.

You become the bottleneck for your team, they do not feel empowered and are not given enough opportunity to stretch and grow.

You also risk burnout, having back-to-back meetings all day and then doing the "real work" after hours eroding your family life boundaries.

I do empathise, it is hard to interfere with anything that has worked for you so far.

The first step is to be aware of what is going on.

Own it, acknowledge how your producer identity has served you and thank it.

Welcome a new identity as a leader of leaders

Below is an excerpt from my LEADer framework and a book recommendation to help with this transition. (Links to both in the comments below)

Commander David Marquet in his book "Turn the Ship Around" says "The goal of a leader is to give no orders...Those who take orders usually run at half speed, underutilizing their imagination and initiative...a human being’s genius, passion, loyalty, and tenacious creativity are volunteered only."

To get the best out of your team, it is important to demonstrate trust in their potential by giving them the opportunity to put themselves to use in finding their own answers.

Moving from telling to coaching them to an outcome is a great step in this direction. This requires resisting the temptation to lead the "how" and just being very clear on the objective and the reasoning behind it and offering support as required.

Using carefully placed open questions you can support your team in igniting their own creativity to come up with options and then as a team decide the best one to try first, learn, and then go again.

This makes leaders out of followers, developing trust in their abilities. You are now benefitting from the collective genius of the whole team rather than just yours.

If you were not around for a month, could your team still operate?

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Job done

By Frank Bolaji Irawo

Leadership, get the job done

Leadership, you are not the only one

Leadership, about empowering everyone

Leadership, allowing the team have their turn

Leadership, that's how the job gets done

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Share in the comments section below what has worked for you in moving from producer to leader of leaders.

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