A senior management conference I attended a couple of years ago included an ‘Icebreaker’ which involved writing one word to describe the person sitting on your right. The person to my left was an Executive Director, a person of few words (and someone who last gave me a compliment 15 years ago) and it was therefore with some trepidation that I turned over the post- it to see the word that best described me as ‘Grounded’.
I was not sure if this was a compliment, or what it meant, but for now I was going to take it as a ‘win.’ I could always wait until I got home to ask Joyce, my wife, coach, and mentor.
I dug deeper into what being grounded means and how it can be perceived as a leadership attribute, and this is what I found……
Staying grounded means:
A grounded person is firmly rooted in their own reality, able to navigate life’s challenges with a clear mind and a sense of emotional resilience. At its core, staying grounded is about having the confidence to maintain a sense of inner calm and stability, even during uncertainty or disruptive moments.
The meaning of staying grounded is a journey of self-discovery and self-care. If you can learn to anchor yourself in the present moment, you can cultivate greater emotional regulation, deeper connections with others, and a more fulfilling, purposeful life.
Being Bettina’s Dad and how ‘B’ has helped me stay grounded.
Bettina is our youngest daughter who copes with a learning disability and autism. She relies on her parents to be consistent, calm, and dependable. With Bettina you do not get away with trying to be somebody you are not. So, lesson number one, you must always be authentic. Related: https://leadershipintheraw.org/2018/03/29/being-bettinas-dad-be-your-authentic-self/
Here are some more ways that Bettina keeps me grounded:
- Knowing there will always be someone dependant on you for all their needs.
- Bettina (and her sister Jennifer) will be your purpose in life. (this is a shared purpose with Joyce and one which we cherish).
- Never taking anything for granted. I am always striving to meet Bettina’s expectations in the full knowledge I will need to win her respect every day.
- That a title and status mean nothing to Bettina, but your kindness and care does. I had been a Warrant Officer in my first career in the Army and a Managing Director in my second career in Social Care. To Bettina I am just “Daddy Steve” or “good boy.”
What I have learned from leaders who are grounded (and how I have tried to apply this to my leadership style)
They:
- Are modest about their success and achievements – they are humble.
- Are inspirational with an authentic message.
- Create a culture of total accountability. holding themselves and others totally accountable for thinking, behaviour, and performance.
- Have a fundamental understanding that it is not about them. It is about serving others.
- Have tremendous influence within their organisation and their communities, where others look up to them.
- Take a pragmatic approach to life.
- Have a steady confident presence not swayed by stress and emotions.
- Are consistent and easy to read, I always knew how they would show up for work.
The first question I asked Joyce when I arrived home from the conference, is being grounded a good thing? “Of course, it is Steve, and we will be doing our very best to keep it that way.
I have found being grounded is imperative for both my happiness and success. It allows me to approach life in a calm and measured way (unless the IT has gone down). I plan for success, but I am not surprised by failure. One of my favourite quotes is “If you’re in a bad situation, don’t worry it’ll change. If you are in a good situation, don’t worry it’ll change” John A Simone Sr
Related: ‘Leadership Lessons I learned’ 1- 10 can be are on www.leadershipintheraw.org home page.
Source: Steve Raw www.leadershipintheraw.org
Leadership in the Raw 