Leadership and Relationships

It is very important in a leadership role not to place your ego at the foreground and not to judge everything in relationship to how your ego is fed. –Ruth J. Simmons

As leaders we are naturally inclined to help others that are in need. From friends, family, to people we mentor, leaders have the ability to multitask and help influence an immense amount of people who are seeking help in any aspect of life. Because leaders have so many people who rely on them for their knowledge and expertise, it can be tough at times to prioritize who we give our time too. It should be a no brainer, right? You should know first and foremost that God and family come first and everything else is after, right? This isn't always the case.

It can be hard to give yourself to everyone, and it is even harder to prioritize your time, especially when you have so many people demanding time from you. As leaders, or any person in a position of power, we often feel that our followers will have top priority for our time. This might be because you have invested so much time into building something, and you still feel you have to give it your all for what you built to stay powerful and influential. This is where a balance needs to be reached.

Just like it is important for leaders to take moments for reflection, it is also important to take moments to reflect and remember the people who have supported you most throughout your leadership journey. Remember from time to time who truly comes first in your life and thank them for being the wonderful people they are. Sure, when starting a business, even when going to school, it can take up a lot of your time. Even when you do have time to spare with a loved one you might be mentally checked out; but you can never forget the family and friends that were there to support you in your time of need. Even if you didn't realize it was a time when you needed support, they were still there even when you declined dinner date after dinner date or a night on the town because you were busy working.

Take a moment today to send an e-mail, text, or even make a phone call, and tell your Husband, Wife, Mother, Father, Friend, whoever you are closest to, and thank them for all they do. 

“Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything is return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it.”-Ralph Marston.