What Leaders Need to Level Up

Leaders obviously need to be at their best in today’s competitive business environment. They must think critically, make sound decisions, and motivate their teams. To do all this and more, leaders need to level up. Leveling up is about more than simply increasing your skills and knowledge. It’s about being more present, more engaged, and more effective. It’s also about being ready.

In this episode, we discuss three components leaders need to level up and invite you to consider what you must do now to show up, grow up and pro up. Enjoy!

Three Components Leaders Need to Level Up

At Leadership Vision, we work with a lot of executive leaders who are trying to change what’s going on in their culture. They’re trying to improve something about their organization and they’re trying to level up. Over the years, we’ve found three main components leaders need to level up: show up, grow up and pro up.

Show Up

Showing up is about being yourself fully and embracing who you are and who you are becoming. It’s also preparation and participation.

• How do you show up as a leader?
• How do you prepare yourself ahead of time?
• How do you show up and represent that you’re engaged and involved?

Grow Up

Growing up is developmental and direct. It is specifically for you. Think about the experiences and learnings your life has provided for you. Consider that you may already have what it takes to grow up.

• What is the current situation or context asking you to grow into?
• How can you grow up into the context to be a better team member and to be a better leader?

Pro Up

Pro-ing up is about applying your life learnings to your professional role. Think about how your experiences contribute to your professional conduct and qualifications.

• What is required of you or what is being asked of you professionally in the current situation?
• What is the professional move or response as a leader?

How to Show Up, Grow Up, and Pro Up to Level Up

Raise the Floor

Set your aspirational bar high and then find the floor. Leaders and teams can only level up once they understand their starting point.

Consider the following questions to raise the floor of your team or organization:

• Where is your team emotionally, socially, relationally, professionally?
• How can you raise the floor to increase your performance?
• How can you anchor your team in the floor and raise up together by showing up, growing up, and pro-ing up?

Tap into Your Knowledge

We believe we have what we need for this moment. We aren’t accidentally where we are in life. The challenges that may seem emotionally insurmountable are the challenges that are next, and we’re ready for them because our lived experience is our best teacher.

Many leaders already have the answers they’re seeking. They have the growth set and the answers, but they could be folded underneath a bad experience or something they forgot. Part of our job is to simply unfold a couple of things for the client to realize what they already know.

Consider the following questions to tap into your knowledge:

• If you were a consultant for a day, what advice would you give your leadership team?
• If you were advising your team as an outsider, what would you say is their next best step?

How Can you Level Up?

The words are so simple: grow up, show up, pro up. They’re an easy enough invitation that each one of us can see what we need to do to raise the volume a notch and level up. How can you level up as a leader? and how can we help? Connect with me at nathan@leadershipvisionconsulting.com. We’d love to hear from you!