Boost your leader resolutions: How to cultivate self-mastery

5 min readJan 22, 2019

With January now well underway, goal setting is in the air!

But what are you planning for yourself? How can you boost your leader resolutions? Are there positive habits you would like to instil (exercise, anyone)? Are you ready to expand your leadership boundaries? Do you feel there are specific parts of yourself you would like to grow?

My trip to Canada a few weeks ago inspired me to add a few self awareness resolutions to my routine. So I thought I’d share with you. And play my part in your resolutions planning

Here are 10 simple ways to boost your leader resolutions and cultivate self-mastery.

Give the benefit of the doubt

One of my mentors dropped this one on me 8 years ago. I use it every day; it’s definitely a good one to boost your leader resolutions.

We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions. But when you account for your own perception of the situation, do you really have all the data in hand?

If someone doesn’t give you what you want, it’s not because they’re out to get you. When you give people the benefit of the doubt, you open the door to empathy and humility.

Listen more

Open up space for others to share their story, not for you to impose yours.

Learn to be an active listener, who can lift up a conversation just by non-verbal language (it counts for more than 70% of communication, after all). Show you’re open to receive, and let that be your trust trademark. Make silence your friend: it usually precedes insight or defining moments.

Be willing to be there for others and let them speak out safely. Who knows, you might be the only one.

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Set your one big thing

I got this one from one of my mindfulness teachers. When the time for resolutions comes, be wise. Differentiate between a 10-point to do list and big fat goals that will keep you busy the whole year long.

Set one big thing you want to achieve in max 3 areas in your life (career, health, family, spirituality, personal growth…). Set your intention, envision the outcome and plan for it.

The essence of meaningful work is to know why you do what you do and how the outcome can shape a different future. Use this as your North Star; it’ll help you remember your purpose if you get stuck along the way.

Start a meditation routine

With hundreds of apps to help you be mindful and get you into meditation, there are some excuses you just can’t use anymore (like “that’s a new-age thing for Krishna devotees”…).

Still not convinced? Meditation improves focus, reduces anxiety, develops curiosity increases correctness and empathy. From athletes to business tenors or celebrities, all rely on meditation for wellbeing.

You can find more about the science of meditation here.

5 minutes of meditation a day is enough. No excuses. Boost your leader resolutions by embracing mindfulness.

Pick up one healthy habit (and stick to it)

It’s no surprise that a healthy body and mind lead to better performance.

So what could you do to improve the performance of your system? The choice is yours: more exercise, better sleep, playing to relax, Bollywood dancing (that’s mine) or reading that pile of books you bought ages ago…

Just choose one (start small, you can always increase intensity later) but do it. The key to boosting your leader resolutions is to find something you can action now.

Discipline… will boost your leader resolutions

Discipline is what leads to success. But let’s make it clear: discipline is not the restriction of the privation of freedom. It’s your commitment to set boundaries for how you function and grow into the world. It’s your unique way to commit to goals, focus on something until it’s done, and role-model perseverance.

Whatever you want to work on next year, commit to it by making it a standing item in your agenda (yes, it’s that simple to boost your leader resolutions).

Charge up your inspiration

According to Neil Pasricha, reading for 20 minutes a day can make you happier. So why not use that time to inspire you to lead a better you or a better life?

If you’re not really into reading, why not choose one TED talk each week? Feed new ideas into your brain. Get a different perspective. Expand your horizons. Learn from others.

We live in an era where information is widely available and, most of the time, free. Be smart with FOMO: use it to boost your leader resolutions.

Get a mentor

Mentoring is another powerful one for you to boost your leader resolutions.

When you consider having a mentor, choose someone you trust. Be open to vulnerability and ask for help. Tell them what you don’t know. Share what worries you.

One of the most difficult, yet rewarding, things you can do is to get the truth delivered to you. And when it’s from someone who has no interest in harming your ego, career or life, why not give it a try?

Celebrate outrageously

You made it to the end of the year.

Maybe you had great epiphanies, achieved more than you thought you were capable of, had a tough time but got over it… either way: what are you proud of?

What did you accomplish that shifted you, what you do, or the people around you? Don’t be shy. Don’t let critics (including your own inner critic) steal your moment. Do something that feels good and celebrate.

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January is a time where we all line things up for a fresh start. So use it wisely and boost your leader resolutions with a few routines that will make you a better leader.

More human, more productive, more innovative, more performant… choice is yours. But go get started!

Originally published at www.coraliesawruk.com