Insights from the leadership planet by Eve and Eli

2024 is soon coming to an end. Often a lot of things need to be finalized before Christmas (work wise as well as in our private lives). Everything needs to be done near to perfect, and the clock is ticking. It can become a very stressful period.

When we get stressed, it impacts the part of our brain called the Amygdala – one of the oldest parts of the brain which plays a big role in processing emotions, especially fear, threats and stress. Acute stress triggers and increases Amygdala activity. This enhances the brain’s ability to detect potential dangers and initiate a fight-or-flight response. This is of course very helpful in immediate survival situations, but not necessarily in our day-to-day life. Chronic stress can lead to an overactive Amygdala, making you more sensitive to perceived threats and prone to anxiety, can lead to difficulties to focus and sleep.

So how can we help to calm down the activity level in our Amygdala?

An interesting experience is taking place in a laboratory at the Max Planck Institute in Berlin, where the brain researcher Sonja Sudimac is scanning the brains of a group of 63 individuals to investigate what happens in their amygdala, the part of the brain that is supposed to warn us of dangers, when they are in different environments. One thing that is researched is what happens in our brain if we take a walk. Taking a walk is of course good - we get out and we get some exercise. But taking an hour's walk in an urban environment led to continued high activity in an already stressed amygdala. After an hour's walk in the forest, the activity in the amygdala had decreased significantly.

So, when you are stressed try to fit in a walk but make sure to use the power of the green areas. You are not always close to a forest but perhaps you have a green park nearby where you can give your brain a chance to calm down and re-charge.

Make sure to take care of yourself and your brain so that you can fully enjoy the coming Christmas break.

More to come from Insights from the Leadership Planet by Eve and Eli

Insights from the leadership planet by Eve and Eli

Hybrid teams are here to stay. After the pandemic this is the new normal – mixed teams with team members working on site, hybrid or even remote. More and more companies are though deciding that they want their employees to be more in the office, well at least three days a week. So, hybrid will be the new normal and in this new environment good leaders are critical.

Leaders need to manage hybrid teams, allowing their employees to work both remotely and in the office. They need to execute some leadership traits probably both better as well as clearer.
Therefore, what do you need to think about a bit extra as a leader:

• make sure you establish clear rules of engagement and developing daily rituals so that everyone knows what is expected. Is this new – no – but it become even more important when you do not have the time to see your employees daily.
• avoid virtual micromanagement and trust that employees will get the job done.
• equip you employees with the skills they need to succeed now as well as in the future by providing appropriate development.
• encourage your employees to contribute to the team spirit by connecting with colleagues in the office and with remote colleagues. Leaders cannot be the only glue to create connection and belonging.
• to ensure that employees working remotely have the right tools to be able to do the work in an effective way.
• make sure to handle meeting facilitation effectively by for instance clear agenda, restating, and summarizing office conversations to clarify for those on the phone or video chat.

Finally, leaders need to continue to develop themselves in order to improve retention, engagement and performance behaviors. It will be key to manage the hybrid workplace and hybrid teams in an effective manner.

What do you need to develop to be an effective hybrid leader?

More to come from Insights from the leadership planet by Eve and Eli

Insights from the leadership planet by Eve and Eli

In the fast-paced world of leadership, where data-driven decisions and logic often reign supreme, there’s an often-overlooked superpower: intuition. In fact, intuition is much more present in our life than what we think or are aware of. It is a knowledge that comes from old ages, when we were living in caves having to deal with animals around and huge uncertainty. 

Intuition is the silent whisper that nudges us toward certain choices. It’s not a mystical force but rather an innate ability we all possess. Imagine it as your internal compass, guiding you through the fog of uncertainty. Let’s explore what intuition truly is:
 

1. The Subtle Signal: Intuition doesn’t shout; it whispers but so deeply that you know you’re right! It’s that inexplicable feeling when for example you meet someone and sense their authenticity or discomfort. It’s the hunch that nudges you toward a decision, even when data points elsewhere.
2. Beyond Rationality: Intuition transcends logic. While analysis and facts have their place, intuition taps into deeper wisdom. It’s the bridge between conscious thought and subconscious insight.
3. Body and Mind: Intuition isn’t just in your head; it resonates throughout your body. Pay attention to physical sensations—an uneasy stomach, a racing heart—when making choices. Research as demonstrated that your body often knows before your mind catches up.
4. Practice and Trust: Cultivating intuition takes practice, like a muscle. Quiet moments, meditation, and self-reflection help. Trust it—especially when it defies conventional wisdom. Intuition thrives when you listen without judgment.

Connecting to your inner compass could completely transform your leadership journey, it brings so many opportunities for development:

• Empathy and Connection: Intuition enhances your ability to empathize and connect with others. By tuning into your instincts, you better pay attention to others, ask more questions and understand better team members’ feelings, needs, and motivations. 
• Creativity and Innovation: Intuitive leaders think beyond the obvious. They’re not bound by rigid frameworks.
• Big-Picture Focus: Intuition helps you keep your eyes on the horizon. While details matter, intuitive leaders maintain perspective and keep an eye on their environment.
• Authentic Decision-Making: Trusting your intuition means aligning with your core values, connecting to your inner self. When ego steps aside, conscious choices emerge.
• Navigating Complexity: In our century of complexity and overload of information, intuition acts as a compass. It guides you through uncertainty, helping you respond to challenges with clarity and grace. 

 
So, embrace and train this quiet force. It’s your compass, pointing toward purpose and authenticity.
 
More to come from Insights from the leadership planet by Eve and Eli