Leadership Begins With the Mindset You Bring In

A note to young leaders.

“Hey, did you bring it?”

When I drive my kids to school in the mornings, I often ask them as they join me in the car: “Hey, did you bring it?”

They know well by now that I’m not referring to their lunch box or sports uniform.

I’m referring to their mindset. I’m asking them: did you bring your enthusiasm, humour and gratitude with you this morning?

It’s a question we should all ask ourselves every morning before we enter our workplace – and every evening, before we step through the door at home.

It prompts a quick audit of our state of mind, and a chance to reset before we start engaging with others.

We can either lift others up or pull them down, depending on the energy we carry in.

Self-awareness is half the battle.
(The other half is the will.)