Ah, Halloween—a season that many of us fondly remember from childhood, a time filled with costumes, candy, and a particular kind of thrill: the joy of scaring ourselves silly. Whether it was jumping out from behind bushes to startle our friends or gingerly stepping into haunted houses, there was a strange exhilaration in pushing the boundaries and confronting the things that frightened us. Yet, as we’ve grown older, the sources of our fears have shifted. The monsters under the bed have been replaced by internal specters that haunt not just our nights but our days—fear, self-doubt, procrastination, and a host of limiting beliefs that hamper our leadership journey.
Just as you wouldn’t let the idea of ghosts keep you from trick-or-treating as a child, you shouldn’t allow these mental phantoms to derail your journey now. So, how do you subdue the scaries and live your best life?
Embrace the Darkness to Illuminate Your Path
The first step is acknowledging these internal monsters. When you ignore or deny them, they thrive in the shadows. Bring them out into the light, sit with them, and understand what they’re trying to tell you.
This self-awareness enables you to lead with more authenticity. The more transparent you are with yourself, the more genuine you can be with your team. Just as the bravest Halloween adventurers venture forth with flashlights in hand, so too must you equip yourself with the tool of self-awareness, shedding light on the unknown corners of your personality.
Make Friends With the Monsters
Those internal monsters often have protective intentions. They might be asking you to slow down when you hear the siren call of a high-risk, high-reward strategy, or urging you to prepare more before making sweeping changes. Listening doesn’t mean obeying, but understanding them helps you negotiate.
Acknowledge their concerns, and then make a reasoned decision. Think of this like a seance; instead of being adversaries, you communicate and become collaborators, finding middle ground that neither endangers your mission nor suppresses the wisdom of their voices.
Tell Your Own Ghost Story
Being the leader means you’re at the helm of your life’s story, as well as playing a crucial role in the stories of those who look to you for direction and support. If your internal monsters are muddying the plot, seize control of the narrative.
Give those monsters names that enable you to separate them out, examine them, and take action upon them. Rewrite them not as villains, but as aspects of yourself that you can either transform into allies or keep in check. By doing so, you become the author of your destiny, as well as a contributor to the success stories of those you lead.
Dare the Fun House Maze
As a leader, others look to you for cues. If they see you grappling with your fears and coming out triumphant, it boosts their own confidence. Maybe it’s a risky venture you decide to take on or a challenging client you manage to win over.
Daring the fun house maze doesn’t mean randomly rushing in without a plan—it means assessing the risk, gathering your courage, and proceeding with strategic intention. Each successful step towards the end not only heightens your reputation but also empowers your team to face their own challenges.
Throw a Costume Party
Leadership isn’t a solo sport. Every win against an internal demon is a collective victory. Share your triumphant candy and, yes, your setbacks, with your team. This creates a culture of openness and resilience.
When you stumble, use it as an opportunity for collective learning. After all, a team that learns from its leader’s mistakes is a team well-equipped to face its own challenges. Think of it as a masquerade where everyone swaps masks for a moment, allowing them to glimpse different perspectives and learn new ways to overcome their own internal monsters.
Assemble Your Wizards Council
No leader conquers monsters alone. Establishing a trusted circle of advisors and mentors can serve as your sounding board, your secret weapon in the battle against your inner demons. In a sense, they become your wizards’ council, each member contributing their unique talents, wisdom, and perspectives to your journey.
Not only do they help you see your internal monsters for what they are, but they also offer actionable strategies and perspectives you perhaps hadn’t considered. When a complex issue arises, a multi-faceted approach is often needed to address it. Your council can serve as a collaborative brain trust, hashing out ideas and strategies in real-time.
The real magic happens when your council becomes more than just a crisis management team. Over time, they help you grow, shaping your leadership style and equipping you to better handle the unforeseen challenges that will inevitably crop up. They help you become a better “wizard” in your own right, mastering the arts of leadership, strategy, and self-awareness.
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So this Halloween, take some time to confront the internal monsters affecting your leadership. Understanding them not only enriches your own journey but also paves the way for more authentic, courageous leadership. After all, a leader who’s faced their inner demons is one well-prepared to guide others through a similar twisty maze of distorting mirrors.
Oceanwave Coaching 
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