The third component is ourselves and we are the most important part of the leadership alchemical process. We can have all the knowledge; we can have degrees and doctorates and have done courses on leadership. We can have experienced countless leadership situations and yet have learnt nothing because we ignore who we are. We lead out of our shadow, those parts of ourselves that get trigged and become angry or always wanting to be seen and heard. We lead, unaware of our impact on others because we do not know ourselves or have lost touch with the values, we once held important in leadership.
Time is the essence of the alchemical process. I have spoken of the time we need to reflect on our experiences. We also need time, as leaders to return to ourselves. Time to reflect on our values, time to remind ourselves of why we are leaders in the first place.
COVID-19 has disrupted our usual patterns and habits and in doing so, it gives us a choice. We can see this disruption as a nuisance, we can become even more frenetic as we lose ourselves in countless zoom meetings, emails and phone calls. Convincing ourselves, our business is making us effective, when it just may be making us neurotic. Or, we can use this time in an alchemical way that is often not afforded to us in the normal routines of live to get to know ourselves again.
We can use this time to reflect on our values as men and women, as leaders, to reflect on what drives us. We can use this time to reconnect with ourselves in a way that renews us, whether it is reading, meditating, walking, journaling, listening to music, whatever it is.
We can use this time in an alchemical way, so that as we walk the path out of COVID-19 we will be leaders who lead with soul and heart post COVID-19.