By Neil Phillips.

How do you lead when you don’t feel like a good leader? That’s a tricky question that you have to battle when things aren’t going well, and you feel responsible for fixing the situation.

I learned early in my leadership journey that leading while I was in a valley is hard. Even though I thought I was hiding my thoughts and feelings from my team, they knew that something was off. And, I missed the excitement, praise, recognition, and sense of accomplishment that I had when everything was going great! While I went through the motions, my passion wasn’t there.

So, how do you lead when you’re down?  The answer is…you don’t lead effectively when you’re in a valley!  So, you have to get yourself out of it as soon as possible. Peaks and valleys are a part of life, and the sooner we learn how to handle them, the stronger we become.

So, here are some thoughts that may help you handle the valleys of your life.

  • Valleys are a place to visit; you don’t want to live there. When you find yourself in the valley, call it what it is and figure out how to get out as fast as you can!
  • Valleys are not the place to beat yourself up. We don’t like ourselves too much when we’re there, and it’s easy to blame ourselves for everything. Give yourself some grace and forgiveness. Affirm that you are a robust and talented leader.
  • Think about what you were doing before falling into the valley and answer these questions.
    • Did I stop doing the activities I was doing before I got in the valley?
    • Have I been coasting? (You know, the only way to coast is downhill.)
    • Am I telling myself that “I just need a rest?” and taking your advice.
    • Where’s my vision? What happened to it?
  • Focus on the future, not the past. What’s happened in the past is done and can’t be changed. When you think about the future, you are taking control. You see that you have choices and options and that you are not tied to just one thing.
  • Take time to look ahead and create your next big vision. How does it feel? How passionate are you about it? Once it’s clear, make your action plan. Let everyone know where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. You’ve now begun your journey out of the valley.

You’ll find as you take these steps, your passion will return, and your team will get back on board.  Soon, you’ll be making progress toward those peak experiences again. Peaks and valleys are a part of our business and our life. Following these steps will lessen your time in the valley so you can enjoy the journey.

Where Do You Go to Grow Your Leadership?

It’s up to you to set the pace for your team in more than just selling and recruiting.  You lead by growing your ability to do great things.  And your team follows your lead.

How do you need to grow so that your team can do the same?

We hope you’ve seen that we don’t mess around when it comes to providing valuable training resources to direct sellers. We’ve learned so much over the years, both from other leaders and our own experiences, and we love creating simple, practical, impactful training that moves direct sellers forward in their business.

Are you ready to join TCPro? 

At Team Connections Pro, our one job is to support your leadership development.  You’ll find materials like Bring on the Balance. You’ll also find audios, eBooks, and webinars on key jobs like Cracking the Recruiting Code in a Digital World, Rev Up Recruiting in a Digital World, and Advancing Leaders: A Proven System.  You can dig deeper and find How to Have a $1,000 Facebook Party as well as Direct Sellers Best Kept Secret to Increasing Productivity. 

AND you’ll have two one-to-one coaching calls every month to help you apply those ideas and plan.

TC Pro is your source for direct selling leadership ideas. For $20 a month, you join TC Pro. We’ll refund your payment if it’s not for you.  AND you can leave when you want.  We’re willing to bet you’ll stay.