In the eighth of our ten leadership concepts in our Take Another Step System, an inspirational leadership workshop: Leadership is being a THERMOSTAT!
A thermostat is a device that controls the heating and cooling of equipment. Being a thermostat leader means that you can set the tone, mindset, and temperature of your team by embracing these 3 things:
1.Temperament and Discernment
2.Trusting Relationships
3.Conflict Management
You cannot be a thermostat for someone else until you can be one for yourself. These two traits will establish our ability as a leader to control our own emotions, allowing us to find and focus on reality. One of the most important things that any leader must do is to find the truth and reality of each situation. Not allowing ourselves to be emotionally hijacked gives us the mental strength to discern the truth and find solutions to our problems. Once everyone sees that their leadership is clear and calm, then everyone will feel the security to allow them to grow in any circumstance.
To be a thermostat for others, we must first learn to regulate our own emotions. When you are able to regulate your own emotions as a leader, you are able to find and focus on reality. A key responsibility of leadership is to find the truth and reality of every situation. By not allowing ourselves to be emotionally hijacked, we are able to maintain mental clarity and strength, discern the truth, and develop solutions for any challenge. When our leadership is calm and decisive, it allows a sense of security that empowers everyone to grow and thrive, regardless of the circumstances.
Just as a thermostat is connected to the machine it regulates, so, too, does trust connect us to the people that we lead. Trust can be established by connecting to people on a personal basis, speaking words of life into them, accentuating the positive, and being present with them by giving them your full attention. Once people trust us, they will gain a sense of security and they will become more apt to tackle their most difficult challenges together. Trust helps everyone to take another step. Once trust is established, fears will turn into fuel, and then everyone will be inspired.
Similar to how a thermostat is connected to the machine it regulates, trust connects us to the people we lead. We can establish trust by connecting with people on a personal level, speaking words of life into them, amplifying the positive, and giving them our undivided attention. When people trust us, they feel secure and become more apt to tackle their toughest challenges as a team. Trust enables everyone to take another step forward. Once trust is established, fears transform into fuel, and everyone feels inspired to achieve their goals.
Are you a peacemaker? A simple proverb that epitomizes the peace process is: soft words turn away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger. So how do we resolve conflict?
P. E. A. C. E.
Plan a peace conference--go with love and understanding.
Empathize with their feelings; listen to understand not to reply.
Attack the problem, not the person.
Cooperate--if you are wise, you will compromise.
Emphasize reconciliation--reestablish the relationship.
Prioritizing these things will help the leader control the emotions, focus, and determination in a culture bombarded by any type of circumstance. Once our people know that we value our relationship with them, even in negative or ambiguous circumstances, energy will skyrocket, and everyone will take another step.
Love to hear your success stories of being a thermostat at home or at work!
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