DREIESKIVA​|Roald Kvam

Have you ever given your all so much in one area of your life, that other areas of your life suffer?

You can balance yourself better by investing in four key areas of your life: personal, family, business and community.

When you invest your energy in these areas of your life – or four pieces of a greater picture – you amplify your impact as a leader.

You know that you can’t lead others if you don’t lead yourself. Good! But listen: You can’t be a good leader just by focusing on leadership. Tru leadership grows holistically.

A picture is always better than the sum of its pieces.

I believe holistic leadership makes you stronger, both as human and head of whatever. Yes, I would say that if you’re not investing in all of your life’s key areas, then you’re not operating at your full potential as a leader.

The key is to balance your key areas, not to manage them perfectly. Listen: You will never get to be perfect in personal or family matters, nor in business or community cases. And truth told, You don’t need to as you aim to become a good human being or head of whatever. The problem is when your key areas are out of balance.

Giving your all in one area, puts you out of balance with the rest. I will not be impressed by you putting in 100 hours a week and camped at the office. Yes, I would not find anybody who worked harder, but definitely smarter and with greater impact. That, my friend, are those that balance the key areas of their life.

Your problem is your focus! Giving your best to all key areas of your life – not just one of them – is the key to holistic leadership.

The game-changer will be the way you organize your life. A good theory has never changed anything… Let us take a look at some examples of how you can think about, develop, and practice your holistic  leadership skills:

Personal

• What skill sets do you need in order to be successful? What do you need to invest in yourself to be a better person? How can you apply these skills to being a leader?
• How do you set goals? How do you hold yourself personally accountable for your actions? What are your goals for one year? Three years? Five years?
• How can you be more articulate? How can you become a more active listener?

Family

• How can you be more attentive and nurturing to your partner? How can your partner realize his or her hopes and dreams?
• How can you develop positive parenting skills? How can you be a role model and help your children grow to be responsible adults?
• How can you show your support to the members of your extended family? Are there any steps you can take to stay in the know about their lives and concerns?

Business

• How can you run a more purposeful business? What are your priorities within the company? What are your responsibilities to the company, to yourself, and to your employees?
• What are the skills you need to make your business more profitable? What are the skills you need to make it a more nurturing workplace? How can you make the company both people and profit directed?

Community

• How can you take an active role in a community? What are your obligations? How should you set goals for yourself in terms of making a difference?
• How do you use what you’ve learned to empower other community members? How can you become a mentor to them?

Just like a muscle, when you take on more, you can handle more. The key areas in your life get easier, cause you grow stronger using your muscles in each area.

When one area of your life suffers, other areas of your life help compensate. But, only if you invest in them.

As you build your leadership platform, learn how to operate at a higher level. That, my friend, is the holistic one. 

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Source & Inspiration: “The 4-Dimensional Leadership Model for Holistic Leadership”, J D Meier.