Each year, many of us find ourselves frantically attempting to create the perfect holidays, both at work and at home, and we can end up wondering if we, ourselves, were even present. We go on fast forward to meet the expectations of those around us. The years of our lives keep going by faster, sometimes leaving us with a sense of loss.

Leading those in your charge can take up precious emotional energy; working to keep your team motivated, helping them rise to their potential, and maintaining high morale. This time of year can take an extra toll on your own reserves.

Many leaders have turned to the changes of seasons in nature to guide them through the seasons of leadership, and of life in general. Each season has a purpose in maintaining the balance of life in nature and provides an analogy for our lives.

Fall is a time of harvest and gathering -- a season for reflection on the abundance in our lives and our capacity to share. It is a time, as a leader, to take inventory and gather what we need to thrive -- which is not determined by things, but by our ability to develop the capacity to show our true self.

Winter arrives for many of us with the excitement of the first snow. It is a time for introspection and reconnection with who we are and what we have to give. It is a time to let some things be dormant and find renewal.

Spring is a time for new beginnings. The snow melts and the daffodils arrive. We are reminded that there can be a new burst of energy from inside; we can establish new paradigms around things, and we can begin anew in places where things need a fresh start.

Summer is a season of growth. It is a time for sprouting plants and the need to prune back what is not needed for our full growth potential. It is a time to soak up the sun and inhale the soft fragrances of nature.

As a leader, there will always be things pulling you away from your own path that is your plumb line -- the things that keep you grounded. I connect to nature in a profound way -- and following the natural courses of nature helps me connect with the seasons of my own life, and my own leadership.

How about you? What can you learn from the changing of the seasons that will help you stay grounded as a leader? Check out our on-demand mini-course, The Healthy Leader...

The Healthy Leader
 

• If you struggle with too much to do in too little time...
• If you're aware that the strain you are under ... takes its toll on personal and professional relationships...
• And you know that being healthy is not just about physical health...

Then check out our mini (1-hour) on-demand course where you will learn strategies to improve so you can 'raise the bar' on who you are as a leader; and experience more peace, greater effectiveness and harmony in your own relationships. Click here for the details.

Leadership training opportunities are offered in many ways to meet your organization's specific needs and budget. Take a look at our different training approaches, including these On-Demand traning courses:

• Supervisor 101
• Bringing Out the Best in You and Others
• Managing Staff in Stressful Times: Celebrations and Challenges of Leading Multiple Generations
• Dealing With Difficult People
• Creating a Culture of Customer Service Excellence
• The Healthy Leader: Learning to Lead Yourself