Time for a guided visualization exercise: How to be a better leader. And instead of giving you five tips on how to do it, why don’t we try something different? Let’s take the time, close our eyes, and visualize being a great people leader could look, sound, and feel like?

So, how does it work? Simple! Let my voice be a guide for you as you focus inward to help you tap into your inner wisdom and Intuition for answers.

Listen and participate in this guided visualization exercise: How to be a better leader.

Before we get started, here are a few things that you’ll need to do in order to get the most out of this.

1. Create a safe space - no distractions or interruptions

First off, you’ll need to create a safe space where you won’t be distracted or interrupted… and also, keep in mind that during this exercise, you’ll have your eyes closed. So yeah, probably not best to do this one while driving.

Silence your phone notifications… The world can wait for the next few minutes.

Then, get comfortable in a seated position or lying down, if that feels better. You get to decide. As with all visualization and breathing exercises we do together this year, you always get to decide what is best for you… take what you need, bless and release the rest.

Okay, now close your eyes or avert your gaze to the ground.

2. Take 3 intentional breaths together with me

Let’s take three intentional, life-affirming breaths.

• Deep breath in through the nose, expand the belly, hold at the top, and then slowly release through the mouth. (Do this three times.)

Now, let your breathing come back to a normal pace, whatever feels right for you.

3. Do a body scan and feel your feet

It’s time to do a body scan… imagine you are slowly scanning your entire body from the tip top of your head, slowly down like molasses, all the way to your fingertips, and then to your toes.

What sensations do you feel? Knots, twinges of pain, soreness, or even , on the flip side, any feelings of harmony, joy, or flow…. just notice what you feel in your body, without judgment or trying to fix it. Just scan down, ever so slowly until you’ve done your entire body.

Once you’re at your feet, really take notice of what it feels like to have your feet make contact with the ground. To be firmly rooted down, the safety and security of that sensation. What do your feet feel like right now?

4. Time to visualize - How to be a better leader.

I want you to imagine you’re at the office and you are walking down a long corridor full of meeting rooms. These meeting rooms are a little bit different, as they’ve all got windows where you can peek inside but you quickly notice, they can’t see you.

The first room you come to, you take a look in the window, and notice it’s your all-time favorite boss.

The one you always reminisce about and think fondly of as they were such a great mentor, a great coach and an excellent listener. They advocated for you behind closed doors. They challenged you to become a better human, and they served as such a great role model.

Take a moment and witness them meeting with one of their direct reports right now.  Notice their body language, the way they listen to the other person so well. The way they create trust and mutual respect. Really notice the details of their conversation and the traits that your favorite boss is exhibiting right now - what do you see?

Breathe.

You move on to the next room and once again, peek inside the window. What do you know, it’s your LEAST favorite boss sitting inside, all by themselves.

How do they look? What can you infer from their body language? Are they stressed? Impatient? Self-absorbed, cocky, or something else? Maybe they seem annoyed that whoever they were supposed to meet hasn’t shown up yet? Or maybe they are showing something else that you’ve never seen before about them? A different side. What do you see?

Breathe.

I want you to remember a time where you and THIS boss had a really difficult conversation at work.

How did they handle it? What could they have done better in that moment and afterwards to resolve the conflict? Remember what that felt like to be on the receiving end of their leadership. How did it make you feel? What would YOU have done differently if the roles were reversed and you were in their shoes?

Breathe.

A moment has passed and then you notice that your all-time favorite boss is actually meeting with your all-time worst boss.

You had no clue they even knew one another! As you peer into the window, you witness something magical. Your favorite boss is mentoring the other person, giving them advice on how to be a better leader. Knowing they can’t see you on the other side of the window, you lean in to hear what they have to say, thinking, “gosh, this should be good!”

Breathe.

Your least favorite boss seems a bit resistant at first to take their advice, putting up a wall, blaming others, and making endless excuses.

But then, your favorite boss did something magical (in the way they only know how to). They gestured and said the exact right thing in that moment, that managed to get them to lower their defenses, lean in and listen without feeling attacked.

• What did they say?
• What made the difference in that critical moment to get them to open up?

Breathe.

Your favorite boss then says to them, “Being a great leader takes practice, it takes repetition, and a genuine interest in other’s wellbeing.” They go on, “Has anyone ever given you this level of care and attention in your career path? Who’s been your favorite boss and why?”

The other person paused for a long time to think, realizing the answer was “no.” No one has really been that sort of role model in their career and that’s why they’ve turned out to be this sort of leader… One who still has a lot to learn.

Breathe.

You notice your favorite boss gives the other person a few more wise words of wisdom, things they could try this week to be a better leader.

You jot those ideas down on your notebook, vowing to try them yourself this week as well. You walk on, smiling, and knowing you’ve just received something really special.

Take this last moment to say thank you with your full spirit and remember that you can revisit this gift anytime you wish. It’s yours forever and ever. You are never alone and you are always fully supported.

It’s time to gather yourself with a deep, belly-filling breath. And when you’re ready, open your eyes.

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So, how did it feel to learn how to be a better leader this way? What came up for you?

I want you to set a 7-minute timer, grab a pen and paper, and take this time to write down everything you remember from this visualization exercise.

• What wisdom was shared?
• What visual clues did you see?
• What did your higher self look like in the mirror?
• What part of this exercise is sticking MOST in your mind and in your heart, that you can’t seem to shake?
• …and what’s one thing that you can do today (with courage and simplicity) to take action on this vision, in real life?

One final whisper

Some of us have been incredibly lucky to have incredible bosses and leaders in our lives.

These are the people who are a beacon in uncertain times, a bright light that acts as a guide and a mentor. The person who you can go to for advice, know you’re in a safe space, and someone who will go to bat for you when it matters most with senior leadership.

But some of us (maybe) have never experienced a leader like that - and that breaks my heart.

• I’ve realized over the years that sometimes we give what we want the most in life.

So if you’re like me, I’ve always tried to be a good people leader for others - giving them the coaching and mentoring they need to succeed, removing roadblocks wherever possible, and providing the necessary resources to help equip and empower them to do the very best work of their lives.

And so if you’re wanting to be a better people leader and not really having that role model in your life right now, just remember this:

Maybe the great leader that you’re wanting in your life is YOU.

At the risk of sounding corny… Be the change you want to see in the world. Be the role model that ripples out and positively impacts others at work and outside of work.

It all starts with you.

I hope this visualization sticks with you the entire week through. Do it again and again if you need clarity or fresh ideas to help your spirit feel refreshed once again… because when you tap into your deep inner knowing, you’re accessing the deep inner wisdom. That electric energy that can be found inside all of us that connects us all together. It knows. You know. We all know if we are brave and we open ourselves to it.

You can do this, I believe in you.

It’s time to SIMPLIFY.

If this thought of the day inspired you...

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As always, please reach out, especially if you’ve got specific ideas or questions that you’d like us to cover on the podcast. DM me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesimplifiers) and let’s spark a conversation.

Thank you!

Show credits: Suzen Marie, our Podcast Editor and Jeffrey Lynn, our Video Editor. Plus, Aubri Williams, Chris Justice, and George Mills, our advisory board. And I’m your host, Mary Baird. Big love to Dennis Coleman, Kristen Kurtis, plus Mark and the team at Goodboy, as well. Thank you so much for listening and telling your peeps about us.

As always friends, keep things simple.