Breathing Oxygen into Leadership

Natural Success leadership coaching dandelion seed bloom against blue sky

The metaphor of “breathing oxygen into your leadership skills” underscores the importance of refreshing and sustaining leadership practices to foster growth, yours and your team’s, resilience, and innovation. 

Your energised leadership helps you to achieve targets with renewed vigor, strategic focus, and a commitment to success. Do you know people who seem to increase the energy and oxygen in your team, in the room, in your interactions? Even when obstacles get in the way, when it all goes pear-shaped somehow you’ve still got a sense you’re on track and that bullseye is still in range! Can you relate? This is also a metaphor for your “every day”  whether in a leadership role or going about daily interactions with family, friends and members of the public.

Make Oxygenating your Target .. how?

Communication done well is a key oxygenator. Effective leaders prioritise clear, transparent, and empathetic communication.  This involves not only articulating vision and goals but also actively listening to team members, others, valuing their input, and addressing their concerns. It not only about telling – its also about listening, asking, acknowledging, humour, reinforcing, creating, sharing.  

When we “Don’t Know” that’s an opportunity for oxygenating ! How?

By fostering open lines of communication, we can build strong, trust-based relationships, enhance collaboration, and drive collective success. On the other hand, when we “don’t know” there will be information to be uncovered, dots to join. That’s when active listening, asking good questions, regular feedback sessions and inclusive decision-making come in. Sound communication processes are vital for honing your communication skills and breathing oxygen into your leadership.

What do you think? Are you an oxygenator within your sphere of influence?  Breathing life into your teams,  for the people you engage with, encouraging discussion and solutions?  

Just as oxygen fuels our physical vitality, self-awareness is the cornerstone of oxygenated leadership.  So, a deeper understanding of one’s strengths, weaknesses, and emotional triggers energizes one’s leadership capabilities. Self-aware leaders can more adeptly navigate complex interpersonal dynamics, inspire trust, and cultivate a positive environment. Regular reflection, feedback from peers and mentors, and mindfulness practices are essential tools for enhancing your self-awareness. By committing to this ongoing process, leaders can ensure they remain grounded, focused, and responsive to their teams’ needs. You can experience being in the moment, living the process whilst activating the journey.

What other qualities fuel your Leadership?

What qualities help you reach your targets and create outcomes that inspire you and others?

      …… Are qualities that will empower your experience and create energy within your teams

You may be wondering What is the opposite of oxygenating? You know those times when someone may not be in tune with the mood of the room. Their fear or need to control, maybe assumptions, shuts down the energy.  A lack of curiosity perhaps.  A lack of trust or empathy.   A sense of unintentionally undermining a team vibe?  Without awareness we can all be capable of doing that and with that a sense of being off-target.  

Alternatively when we use Oxygenating behaviours we open up possibilities, facilitate a solutions mindset, support the ups and downs of our every-day experiences.    

At Natural Success I work with individuals and leaders to do just that… breathe life into their roles, open up the possibilities and facilitate a solutions mindset.  If these ideas are resonating with you Let’s chat about how we can take your oxygenating skills to a new level! Wishing you every success.