If you want to be a leader, you need to show up as one. Every day. And that’s especially true when you are leading others. You don’t get a day off.

This is bad news.

Because you and I know that there are those days when you would prefer to lie under the covers, go for a nature walk, eat a chocolate bar or two, or have no interactions with anyone and especially not with employees with problems.

So, what to do?

How can you show up as a leader even on those days?

5 Shortcuts For Showing Up As A Leader:

Shortcut 1. Be mindful

Showing up as a leader is all about leading yourself. It’s no coincidence that the slogan of my new coaching program is Inside Mastery for Outside Influence. Leadership requires being aware of your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Even if you don’t feel like it, take a 5 minutes break and just do nothing. And even if you don’t feel like it but somehow still have a bit of energy, then watch your breathe during those 5 minutes. Just breathe in, breathe out.

Shortcut 2. Listen

This shortcut seems like a no brainer: if you’re not wearing your leadership hat then be quiet: listen more. And it’s crazy but when you’re not at your best, listening seems to be the most difficult thing to do. But still do so. Don’t talk, just listen. And if you have a strong urge to do something, don’t open your mouth. Take notes instead.

[Note: In my August 2014 newsletter I wrote an article about active listening.]

Shortcut 3: Dress up

Albert Einstein said:

“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”

The last thing that you want to happen is that you look in the restroom’s mirror and that one glance confirms all your yucky feelings of not being a leader. So, dress up, especially when you’re not having a good day. Dressing as a leader will change your mental state.

Shortcut 4: Be vulnerable

Be open about not having a great day. Tell people in your team what’s going on. Tell them that your dog is sick or that you’re not feeling well. Openness is appreciated. Openness leads to understanding. Openness leads to being authentic. Openness leads to people to see you as a human. And they will appreciate you more for it.

Shortcut 5: Your Perfect Morning

You’ll never know when a bad hair day pops up. That’s the same as a bad leadership day. It’s suddenly there. So, create habits that increase your chances to show up as a leader. Create your perfect start of the morning by including some habits that align you with the kind of leader you want to be.

Showing up as a leader is all about leading yourself.

Through good days and through bad days.

If you’re interested in growing your capacity of leading yourself, contact me for information about my new coaching program, UleadU.