It's easy to get distracted from your work and objectives in the modern world for various reasons. It could be daily events or the flood of notifications from our phones and emails. It could be an unexpected call or breaking news, and it feels like they are everywhere these days. Additionally, procrastination is another common distraction that many face.But what if you could gain insight into the mind of someone with many years of leadership experience under their belt? It's widely thought that leaders' mindset makes them more results-oriented and effective, a belief supported by research in psychology and organisational behaviours. We asked Ana Maria Velica, the Founder and Director of Green Apples, a leader who worked with numerous teams for twenty years, to share insights about her growth mindset and how you could do it to achieve your goals.
“Leaders inspire others to follow, motivate and empower them to deliver personal, professional and business growth.”
Leaders are often expected to lead by example. How does that expectation shape the way you manage your own motivation?
Ana-Maria: Everybody talks about leadership, but still not many display it. Leadership can be taught and can be practiced, but ultimately, it’s a choice. Leadership is a choice to show up every day at your best, aligning your thoughts, words and actions with a set of morals and convictions.Leaders inspire others to follow, motivate and empower them to deliver personal, professional and business growth. Some schools of thought refer to it as ethical leadership, while others refer to it as transformational leadership.
Some of the strategies for leaders to stay motivated are:
Self-reflection – time aside to reflect on your own actions and impact, seeking continuous improvement and also self-kindness Purpose-motivation - always centre your actions on purpose to put others’ interests first, and contribute to a meaningful cause. Trusting – trusting your team to deliver by empowering them and motivating them Mentorship excellence – leaders are constantly mentoring teams, providing clarity of thought and appetite for success. Wellbeing-focused decision making – having a lifestyle that involves active exercise, healthy eating and a positive mindset helps a leader stay motivated. Taking the time to de-prioritise when it comes to personal health is not only inspiring but the right way to stay in control of your own wellbeing. Continuous feedback – seek continuous feedback as a way to improve and stay motivated. Make sure you select wisely a diverse panel of teams and individuals who are invested in your growth.
“I pencil in my agenda deadlines for certain work, priorities and add reminders.”
Everyone procrastinates at some point. Do you have routines that help you get back into focus quickly? I asked Ana-Maria. And her answer came right away. “What helps me is having a trusted <kitchen table> as Michele Obama refers to in her book The Light We Carry. The kitchen table is practically your trusted people who will hold you accountable for your goals.”She also added: “Having the meetings scheduled in the calendar for short, medium and long term. I also pencil in my agenda deadlines for certain work, priorities and add reminders to them.I wrote in a newsletter (1) Intrinsic motivation helps you secure a good job | LinkedIn about the middle problem tactic: If you feel less motivated halfway through the goal - MIDDLE PROBLEM - neuroscience advises to chunk that section so then, you acknowledge + move + eliminate the middle problem.”How do you prioritise tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed? I continued. Ana-Maria said, “Using the priority matrix, which is well-known as the Eisenhower Method.” The Eisenhower Method, or Matrix, is a task management tool named after former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who used the concept to prioritise tasks by categorising them as either urgent or important and neither urgent nor important. Using this strategy can help you focus on what truly matters and manage your time more effectively.
“Focus on the 20% that brings you 80% of success.”
Furthermore, Ana-Maria shared, “In negotiations, there is the golden rule called Pareto: focus on the 20% that brings you 80% of success. Leaders know that 80% of outcomes or results come from 20% of causes or inputs.I always focus on the BIG WINS that require 20% of input and effort.”, concluded the Green Apples Founder and Director.
