Tag: leadership

Mastering Magnetism

Posted on by andrew

Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Nour Saqqa argues that integrity is key to becoming a better leader, and outlines the path to achieve a reputation that will earn the trust of others.

 

Did you know that your greatest personal asset is the way that others know you? That’s right, it’s your reputation. Your reputation can be the reason why you get promoted or fired. And in today’s academic and business worlds, if you want to set yourself apart from others and be noticed as an up-and-coming leader, you need to invest in the most important trait that’s associated with having a good reputation and being a great leader—integrity.

 

Integrity involves being honest and moral and trustworthy and consistent. A person with integrity is not only accountable, self-aware and responsible, but also makes ethical decisions in any given situation. Those who have integrity become magnets, attracting people and opportunities. 

 

Let’s face it, people will not buy anything from or follow individuals they don’t trust. So, what are three actions you can take today to help you become a better leader? 

  • Keep Your Word 

 

Words are powerful — but actions are even more powerful. With words, you can convey a willingness to do something. But how you act actually demonstrates your level of willingness. Whenever you — or anyone — say you will do something, others expect you to do it. 

 

When you choose not to honour your commitments enough times, you will often find others running in the other direction when they see you. When, however, you honour your word and follow through on commitments, others are more likely to trust that you will do so in the future. 

 

Honouring your word establishes you as reliable and trustworthy. It also allows you to have more influence on others in both your social life and at work. This means that more people will listen to what you have to say. 

 

Whether or not you choose to keep your word not only impacts your relationships, but also the overall strength of your character. It’s easy to make promises and break them. When, however, you choose to keep your promises, each act of integrity strengthens your character.

  • Live in Truth and Analyze Your Key Relationships Regularly

 

To live in truth with yourself, you must live in truth with each person in your life. It means refusing to say or do something that you don’t believe is right. It means refusing to stay in any situation where you’re unhappy with the behaviour of another person because you refuse to compromise your values. 

 

Part of being able to live in truth with yourself and others involves becoming more self-aware — being able to see yourself more accurately by better understanding who you are and what your values are, how you situate yourself in this world and what motivates you.

 

Becoming more self-aware is one of the most powerful ways to grow as a leader. For instance, in a book titled Leading So People Will Follow, Erika Andersen discovers that individuals who are more self-aware become more successful leaders.   

  • Study People of Strong Character

 

Sometimes, the best way to learn is through example. This can involve learning through observation or through reading about and studying other people’s success stories. This also applies to developing integrity. 

 

You can develop yours by studying people of strong character like Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Vishen Lakhiani, and Jay Shetty—leaders whose core values and business ethics have allowed them to change the world. 

 

How many of these actions will you practice today? 

 

While developing your integrity and becoming a better leader does not happen overnight, implementing a strategy that involves incorporating specific daily practices into your lifestyle will help you become a better leader. 

 

All you soon-to-be great leaders out there: what will you do to make yourself into the person you know you can be? Or are you already there? Tell us about your journey in the comments below, or on any of our social media channels!

On Fear and Happiness

Posted on by andrew

Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Kat Z starts with questions about leadership, and arrives at a galvanizing answer about self-respect.

 

To rule with fear or respect – it’s a question that distinguishes different types of leaders. Which is truly more effective in the eyes of the amassed crowd? How does a single person grasp the spirit of the people in a way that produces a productive result? Leadership involves maintaining a grip on the reins of the herd, but what, really, is the right way of doing this?

 

Every person responds to people in positions of power differently. Some find a threatening stature to be the most impactful, and are motivated by avoiding the dangers of failure. Others require a kind, supporting figure to succeed. They enjoy life led towards prosperity with a gentle hand.

 

You can notice these various styles of leadership in every political figure. There are democratic candidates: those who must vie for the admiration of the public in order to be elected. Alternatively, there are dictators. Dictators, or any other tyrannical leader, feed off the fear of their people to remain in power.

 

In some ways, using fear as a motivator can be very effective. After all, fear is a primary driver for human adaptation and survival. But there is also a high cost: a greatly decreased quality of life. Consistently using extreme measures to push yourself to your limit is an incredibly taxing and tiring method. To put it in a wider view, very few countries have found lasting success using this method. An autocratic country with content citizens is not far off from an oxymoron. They’re also rarely economically profitable. An afraid and unhappy population does not produce the greatest quality, or quantity, of work. Fear is a method designed to defeat the strongest of us.

 

This doesn’t only ring true in politics. This rule can be applied to any single person’s communication style. And it can be seen in how we respond to different people. 

 

Most importantly, it can be seen in how we treat ourselves.

 

We aren’t just born this way, as some may lead you to believe. We are taught how to handle ourselves by witnessing the influential people in our lives. Whether they be our parents, siblings, grandparents or someone unrelated to us, their actions will be reflected in ours. We, as the next generation, will then go on to influence our children.

 

If we rely on fear, the parasitic pain that results is allowed to propagate. Then how can I possibly escape my own brain?

 

Your neurological system has been taught that fear is the best possible way of achieving success in life. It will never knowingly try to bring itself down, it’s just doing the best it can with the given circumstances.

 

The genetic staircase that brings about these views may seem insurmountable, but that is not the case. The importance of treating yourself gently can be learnt with time and patience. However, in order to rewire your brain, you must first be aware of how negative treatment came about as the default. To effectively move on, we must look back and reflect on the past. Thoroughly processing the details of your upbringing can be an incredibly harrowing experience, but the only way to properly treat an infection is to first release the pus that hides the wound.

 

Humans as a group have an intense need to constantly evolve. We have a drive like no other to be the most improved versions of ourselves. It can be easily forgotten that we still have some of those same primal instincts from when our ancestors lived in comparatively underdeveloped conditions. Our minds and abilities have come incredibly far, yet we still cannot seem to grasp our final existential goal. Many people think that it is tangible success, whether it involves making the most money or having the most things, though this isn’t the case. You can endlessly improve the standard of the objects around you, but a lot of the time, this will only decrease your quality of your life. 

 

In reality, the most highly evolved goal is to be able to do things purely out of enjoyment. There are entire industries that exist because of the happiness these products bring to people, whether it aids their survival or not. This is, admittedly, a problematic concept, as there are vast numbers of people all over the world who still have to worry about their most basic needs. But it does prove that the human race isn’t only a race to the finish line; it also involves appreciating what you have, when you have it.

 

This means allowing yourself to simply live life. To abandon all unnecessary stress and to remember that, in order to demand respect from others, you have to first demand it from yourself.

 

Power produced from your own pain is not power in itself, but abuse. You deserve to be happy, you deserve to believe that you can live a life that isn’t ruled by fear.

 

Each person is the sole leader of themselves, so it can’t be forgotten that the journey to a fulfilling life begins with the proper, respectful treatment of you.

Treat yourself! What makes you happy? Let us know on any of our social media channels, in the comments below or in person at a Conscious Connections meeting!

Leading: The Way

Posted on by andrew

Great leaders are born and made. How? Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Emma Norton explains.

 

What does it take to be a good leader? Some people are naturals, even born with it. They have a level of strength and integrity that is inherent. 

Alternatively, some leaders evolve through experience. They rise above situations designed to pin them down. A compelling leader refuses to settle and brings their team members along with them for evolutionary growth. The blend of these two aspects provides a leader with the prime positioning for excellence. 

 

What, then, makes a bad leader? A few global politicos could come to mind, or perhaps an egomaniac boss from your (hopefully) past. Such individuals have misconstrued the role or archetype of a leader. When someone in a position of power takes advantage of their role and forgets the inherent truth that we are all equal and helping each other strive toward change, it not only dims their light, but affects those who, sometimes in a blind trust, follow them. This is what provides a leader with power: it’s not necessarily just from their job title, but from everyday interpersonal interactions. In these contexts, the stronger person will always be able to take charge. In that strength, we must remember the keyword of integrity, which some leaders are missing. They use their positions to fuel their insecurities rather than choose humility.

 

Take the analogy of an athlete-turned-coach. As an athlete, you play a sport for however many years. You learn, you cultivate your talents and you hone your skill set. What would position you as a good coach (a leader) is knowing the sport itself from many angles. You have an innate ability to educate and support an athlete without letting your egocentric needs get in the way, as you are fulfilled and own your position of power. You understand the concept of paying it forward. You take your ability to impact others as a form of responsibility. What makes a great coach is the ability to help their athlete thrive by supporting and pushing them toward success — the same with a leader in any scenario. There is no sense of a threat; there is a strategy toward collective empowerment.

 

At some point in all of our lives, we are considered leaders. Whether it’s as a parent, older sibling or within a professional setting, everyone will face a situation where they can opt to lead with inspired action. A good and empowered leader openly works on themselves and inspires others to do the same. They remain compassionate, yet driven. They create a feeling of safety for those who follow them, and they respect their position of power. 

 

Whether leadership is, for you, a goal that stems from a desire to obtain a certain status or something at which you have a natural aptitude, there are challenges with assuming a leadership identity. Impostor syndrome can sink in, or the responsibility, at times, can be daunting, especially if leadership is not what you signed up for in the first place. Uncertainty is what causes this stress. It is invaluable to remember to breathe. If you are creating a chain reaction with your choices, make sure they are good ones. An effective leader takes the time to breathe and review everything thoroughly. They do not act in haste, but rather as best they can through the lens of compassion.

 

If you are in a leadership position and feel uncomfortable, remember that all you have to do is live with integrity and honesty. Those who follow you will find that inspiration for themselves. We can only be human, but the mastery of what we project outward is where true leaders are born. A leader puts out constant reminders to treat others how they would like to be treated. And as a leader, we have to pull others up to our level, not allow trivial and pointed things to drag us down. We may not be able to change others’ perceptions, but when we lead with integrity and set our best example, that should be our sole responsibility and concern. 

What makes a great leader in your eyes? Share your thoughts with us on any of our social media platforms, or join our community to engage with the vibrant leaders who make Low Entropy happen!

Can We Be the Leaders of Our Lives?

Posted on by andrew

A Youth Empowering Youth meeting recap

“Youth Empowering Youth is a program that aims to inspire young people to become leaders in the future. The core of this program is to provide a safe environment for a younger generation in which the participants can feel secure and confident to share their feelings and thoughts. Each session’s final goal is to be a catalyst to encourage youth to explore their talents in a meaningful approach.”

How can we become leaders? How can we be a positive role model for others? Is leadership something that we are born with, or is it an attitude that we can learn? Are leaders the kind of people that change problems to challenges? Can we keep improving in skills that we lacked if we keep moving and working hard? These questions were discussed in the last session of the Youth Empowering Youth (YEY) program. 

Participants were together for the last summer YEY meeting on Zoom recently. Each participant had the opportunity to express their ideas and feelings towards the past weeks of learning. The graduation meeting included two fantastic guest speakers who were open to sharing their life and leadership experience, which created a friendly and inclusive atmosphere.

The meeting started with a brief review of the topics of the previous session. For instance, they discussed how to change a problem into a challenge, and perspective. One facilitator gave an example of how, for a mechanic, a broken car is a challenge, but for another person it could be a problem. Also, participants recalled the growth formula, and one of the participants shared her point of view on it. She said that, “When someone starts doing something, that person will become better if they just keep trying and trying.”

Afterwards, one of the facilitators introduced the last session’s topic with just a simple question: “Why do you want to be a leader?” That’s a challenging question to answer, even for adults. However, these young participants were prepared to answer this. Some participants said they wanted to be a good role model and inspire people to be better. Another participant expressed her intention of being a leader because she wanted to share her ideas and ambitions. One other participant said that she didn’t want to be in the shadows anymore, and some participants agreed with this statement. It is interesting to see that even people as young as 12 to 18 years old can clearly express why they want to become the leaders of their lives.

The meeting ran smoothly, the facilitators asked questions, and members answered with eagerness. One question that excelled in the forum was about the qualities of a good leader. An interesting fact that came out was that most of the participants shared the same view on the required qualities to be a good leader.

They believed good leaders were:

  • Confident in their ability to lead the journey
  • Willing to listen to other people’s opinion and ideas
  • Willing to help people
  • Willing to step out of their comfort zone
  • Confident in their judgment skills
  • Easy to approach
  • Confident, responsible and accountable

What was surprising was that none of the participants believed they could be leaders, because they associated leaders with high management positions. However, through this conversation, the facilitators explained that being a leader is more than a job or position. It is about enduring life, working hard and helping others, because in a way, we are all leaders.  Leadership is a way to live, to express oneself and to take the initiative to do something good.

Participants were surprised by this revelation, and the facilitator asked again if they felt like a leader. 

Some of the participants had changed their minds.

Before presenting the first guest speaker, the facilitators asked which one of the previous sessions had been the most helpful for building learning qualities. One participant said that session five, about failure, was mind-blowing because she had always feared failure. She believed that a good leader would never fail, but after that session, she understood that failure is part of growing. It’s impossible to be always on the right path. Sometimes failure is part of the process. 

Another participant talked about session two, which was about how your attitude influences your outlook in life. Each person is the architect of their own thoughts. Each person manages their way of sensing life events and staying positive. At the end of this part of the meeting, most participants felt that they identified with this session.

After the leadership discussion, the facilitators announced the first guest speaker Jay DeMerit, a retired professional football player. He was the captain of the Vancouver Whitecaps, and he now dedicates his time to give motivational talks to young people.

Jay came to the meeting with a clear objective to give a meaningful speech about his life journey. He talked about his path to becoming a professional football player. He talked about the struggles he overcame to reach his dreams and the hard work he did to achieve it. One phrase that defined his entire presentation was “dream big, think small.” 

Jay explained that we must dream big, and to achieve this, we must work in small steps. Jay’s goal was to empower the participants to do their best. He gave fantastic advice to follow.

  • Find a mentor or a person to look up to. If you admire someone, look at how they behave and how hard they work, and try to be better.
  • Take step one at the time. Each small accomplishment toward your dream must be celebrated.
  • Get out of your comfort zone.
  • Micromanage your goals, ask questions, communicate with others and don’t be afraid to fail, because after each failure, you can find an opportunity to grow.
  • Believe in yourself.

The second guest speaker was Brittney Grabill, a Canadian film producer and actress living in Los Angeles, working as a casting associate. She shared a little about her work experiences as an actress and how leadership has been part of her life. Brittney talked about being a leader since she was a little girl. She said that she was the kind of person who enjoyed creating plans and playing sports. Her first dream was to be an athlete, but she had to go through a medical procedure that changed the way she looked at life when she was younger.

Some of the stories that she also shared were about her following her dreams of acting because she enjoyed working in her family business. One piece of advice that she gave to the participants was to explore different paths. We might have one or more identity crises in life. Sometimes, we can feel attracted to two or three paths simultaneously. She encouraged the audience to have the courage to explore, since shifting and adaptation are part of life.

Brittney shared how she maintains a positive mind even in the most stressful times. She said that she would write small gratitude notes each day, and she encouraged each participant to practice this. She said that humans don’t tend to be positive thinkers, so it’s important to list down what we’re grateful for from time to time. These lists are reassuring during difficult times.

Jay and Brittney were refreshing speakers full of anecdotes and life experiences who provided new views about applying mindful daily leadership skills.

To wrap up the session, the participants shared how they felt before and after the  YEY program:

Congratulations to the participants for being part of this fantastic program, and congratulations to the facilitators for sharing their time and experience with each YEY program member..c

 

Author: Catherine A Pulgar E.

Edited by: Karissa deGuzman