ANI
Starting your day by thinking about what kind of leader you want to be can make you more effective at work, a new study held by the University of Florida (UF) has found.
"It is as simple as taking a few moments in the morning while you are drinking your coffee to reflect on who you want to be as a leader," said Remy Jennings, a doctoral student in the University of Florida's Warrington College of Business, who co-authored the study in the journal Personnel Psychology with UF management prof Klodiana Lanaj. When study participants took that step, they were more likely to report helping co-workers and providing strategic vision than on the days they did not do the morning reflection. They also felt more “leader-like” on those days, perceiving more power and influence in the office. The effects also extended to aspiring leaders.
"Leadership is really challenging, so a lot of people are hesitant to tackle leadership roles or assignments," Lanaj said. "Reflecting a few minutes in the morning really makes a difference."
And unlike being given extra responsibility or leading a team project, a morning reflection is under the employee's control.
"They are not dependent on their organisation to provide formal opportunities. They do not have to wait until they have that title that says they are a leader to take on leadership in their work," Jennings said.
Want to try a morning leadership boost? Here are some prompts recommended by the researchers.
1. What are some of your proudest leadership moments?
2. What qualities do you have that make you a good leader, or will in the future?
3. Think about who you aspire to be as a leader, and then imagine everything has gone as well as it possibly could in this leadership role. What does that look like?
4. What effect do you want to have on your employees? Do you want to motivate them? Inspire them? Identify and develop their talents?
5. What skills or traits do you have that can help with those goals?
Whether you are the boss or on your way up the ladder, "this is a tool to be more effective at work." Lanaj said. "Just a few minutes can entirely change your focus for the rest of your day."