Leo Season: Leadership Edition!

Leo Season is all about embracing your personal power, allowing yourself to shine, and bringing out your inner appreciator. 

So how can you best use the energies of this season to boost your career?  Here are some things to try when the Sun is in Leo:

1 - (Re)Connect with Your Superpower!

"I feel like I'm failing", a manager told me during a performance check-in (I'm her boss). "All these new managers on the team, they are so brilliant! Look at them running AI for process automation.  And running queries to produce those business intelligence reports within minutes.  I don't have any of their skills..."  

"Who cares?", I said.  "That's their superpower.  Let's talk about YOURS!  You shine in your own way, and it's just as valuable." 

So....what is your superpower? We all have one. Or two. Or three. 

You may be a brilliant strategist.  Or you might have an eye for process efficiency. Or perhaps you're a natural cheerleader, motivating and engaging the team through your sunny personality.  Or maybe you're the one bringing people's hidden talents to the surface. 

Why compete with other people's superpowers? Shine in your own right and on your own terms! 

And if you're in a leadership position - every person on your team has their superpower, too!  Find it. Highlight it. Appreciate it.  And see them blossom 🌻

2 - Spruce Up Your Resume

Jot down your professional accomplishments this year, for your next interview. If you don’t interview very often, it’s easy to forget some of your achievements. Keep a running log for when that next fabulous job opportunity comes up.

3 - Practice "MY Role on This Project Was..."

We women especially tend to shy away from showcasing our accomplishments and our role. Do you find yourself saying “We delivered….we accomplished…”?

While that delivers a fine message that you’re a team player, it also buries your accomplishments.  Always finish with, “And my role in this successful delivery was…..”

4 - Book a Team Appreciation Event

Surely there is some milestone worth celebrating in the next month. Some project milestone. Someone’s anniversary with the company.  Some targets that were finally achieved.

Appreciation boosts engagement.  And engagement leads to a happier environment at work – but also to increased business results. If you lead a team, the term “discretionary effort” should be your friend. Your team can do the bare minimum – or go the extra mile, or two, or three! – when they are truly engaged.

And while you are at it, book a virtual coffee (or an in-person lunch) with your strongest players. Look them squarely in the eye as you express your appreciation of them. It will brighten their day – and as mentioned, help with their engagement 😊

5 - Don't Forget to Appreciate Your Boss

If you’re an independent thinker, you might shy away from this. “Surely they will think I’m brown-nosing”. But, let me tell you something.  I've been in leadership roles for 19 years. It's such a nice touch when someone says, “I appreciate your leadership”. It brightens my day – and to be honest with you, makes me appreciate the other person more.

6 - Find Where Confidence Lives In Your Body

Throughout most of my career, I had long red hair.  Yup, I'm a Leo ♌ Before a particularly intimidating boardroom meeting, I would try to raise my confidence as much as I could. Often, I was so nervous that my heart was racing and my palms were sweaty. "Confidence! You can do this!" -  I would then stand tall in my high heels and toss back my Leo mane, before walking into that boardroom. 

That erect spine and that hair toss soon became a quick way to summon my confidence within seconds.  Embodiment is a very powerful technique! It connects you with a particular energy on a very deep level.  With some practice, you'll be able to call on this energy within seconds, when you need it.

Where does confidence live in your body? 

If you work with crystals, try carnelian to help you connect with and express vibrant confidence. 

7 - All Those Great Things They Say About You....

For business owners, spend some time collating reviews and testimonials you’ve received. Social proof – seeing other people’s opinions – can help big time. Display those wonderful reviews on social media. Include them in your newsletter.

Last but not least – hold a customer appreciation day🙏 Don't be a business that chases new clients, and forgets to appreciate the loyal customer base you already have.