ChrisPoyzer,MSW
Executive&LeadershipCoach
SustainingYourLeadershipThroughBalanceandResilience
WhenIwasakidgrowingupinruralNorthDakota,IhadanunclenamedDenny.Hewasn't coolintheusualsensehedidn'tdressfancyoractlikeabigdealbuthewascoolbecausehe alwayshadtimeforme.We'dheadovertothelocaltownbar,andhe'ddigintohispocketsand pulloutabunchofquarters.Forhours,we'dsittheredrinkingPepsiwithpeanutsdroppedinthe bottle,playingroundafterroundofpinball.Thoseafternoonsweresimpleandfun,akindof restorationIdidn'tevenrealizeIneeded.
ButUncleDennyhadanotherhobbyIalwaysadmired.Helovedcarsespeciallyold,beat-up onesthatmostpeoplethoughtwerejunk.Hehadahugeshopfilledwithrustyvehicleshe'd gatheredfromallaroundthecountryside.Hewouldspendhourssandingdowneachcar, polishingthem,carefullyfixingeachpartuntiltheylookedbrandnewagain.
Leadershipisn'tsodifferentfromwhatmyuncledidwiththoseoldcars.Overtime,thedemands ofleadingcanwearusdownandmakeusrusty.Stress,responsibility,andconstantchallenges takingtimetocareforyourself,fixwhat'sbroken,polishwhat'simportant,andgetbacktoa placewhereyoufeelbalancedandreadyagain.Withoutrestoration,weruntheriskofburning outorlosingeffectiveness.ButwithsomeintentionalcarejustlikeUncleDenny'sworkwe canfindourenergyandpurposeagain.
Yet,forhighlyambitiousleaders,thisideacanfeelalmostimpossible.Ioftencoachpeopleat theverytopthosewhorelentlesslychasebonuses,promotions,andstatus.Theirurgencyand ambitionservedthemwell,butnowthosesamequalitiescomewithconsequences.Constantlyon thehunt,theyfinditincrediblyhardtopauseeventospendsomethingassimpleasthreehours playingpinballonaTuesdayafternoonwiththeirnephew.
adersIworkwith(andmyself):if youhavechildrenlikeIdo,Ruby(13)andElinor(10)75%ofyourtotallifetimewiththem happensbeforetheyturnabout14.Thinkaboutthat.Somedayyou'lllookbackandwishyou'd sloweddown,spentmoretimeinthemoment,andlesstimechasinggoalsthat,ultimately,may feelhollow.
Theverystrengthsthatmadeyousuccessfulyourdrive,ambition,andurgencycanbecome weaknessesifyouneverpause.Withoutproperrestoration,yourperformancediminishes, relationshipssuffer,andoveralleffectivenessdeclines.Ironically,yourconstantefforttoachieve morebecomescounterproductive.
PhaseFive:Restoration
"AnchoringConfidenceandClarityforSustainableLeadership"
Inthisphase,leadersbegintofeeltheresultsoftheirhardworkandgrowth.Restorationisabout reconnectingwithstrengths,restoringenergy,balance,andconfidenceafterearlierchallenges. ytohandlechallengesmoving forward.
Thisstagehelpsyougainclarity,experiencereneweddirection,andalignyourleadershipactions withlong- feelingincontrolofbothpersonal andprofessionaldemands.
Resilienceiskey.Leadersdevelopthetoughnesstofacechallengeshead-on,equippedto navigateuncertaintywithoutrevertingtooldhabitsorbecomingoverwhelmed.
(ifyouareworkingonthis)
Asyourcoach,Chrishelpsmaintainmomentum.Heprovid sightofyourprogress.Whenchallengesarise,Chrisoffersreassurance,helpingyouremain steadyandconfident.
Chrisencouragesreflectionbutkeepsyouforward-focused,emphasizingself-careandresilience soyoustayenergizedandavoidburnout.Throughconsistentguidance,Chrisreinforcesyour newbehaviors,ensuringpositivechangesbecomeapermanentpartofyourleadership.