STRONGER TOGETHER: Taking the lead in your own life

By Tanya O'Shea, IMPACT Community Services' Managing Director

"STRONGER TOGETHER" is a weekly column where Tanya explores key issues. This week Tanya focuses on what it means to be a leader in both your personal and professional life.

When we talk about leadership, it should not always be within the context of a business position; rather we should also be talking about what it means to be a leader of your own life, and what that looks like.

Taking control of your own narrative and life for yourself rather than for others is not an easy task; it involves honest self-reflection and attention, setting boundaries and goals.

It may even involve quitting – and that’s not a bad thing. While there are currently some negative connotations with the word ‘quit’, as though you’ve given up or failed; the root word aligns with notions of freedom and being clear.

You’re not giving up on something, you’re freeing yourself from a direction, a job, a habit, a relationship, that didn’t serve you.

You chose not to give up on yourself and neglect your needs.

Resilience is one of the key attributes of a good leader, and it certainly applies to leading your own life.

Being able to recognise what you want and even who you are can be hard when very specific and non-inclusive societal narratives have been maintained throughout human history.

However, the prevalence of a mainstream narrative doesn’t mean it’s right and it certainly doesn't mean you are wrong if you don’t conform to society’s expectations.

Being resilient isn’t about being unwavering or unaffected by a situation – you're human and you’re allowed to feel, you’re allowed to change your mind and you’re allowed to dream. Resilience is being able to recover, adapt, and keep going.

It’s the ‘get knocked down seven times, get up eight’ spirit.

At IMPACT Community Services we invest in building resilience and leadership in our staff through myriad tools.

We have established a Leaders Lab for people in management positions to be involved in a monthly staff training sessions.

As an organisation we have the Impact Academy which encourages staff to pursue personal development in fields of interest to them through online learning courses, and champion mental health and cognitive awareness/reflection through various programs.

Understanding who you are can be the first step to living authentically and thriving in your daily life.

It can be an overwhelming process, so remember to take care of your wellbeing and give yourself a break.

It’s not about having all the answers right now, life is the journey of asking questions to find them and if you need support it’s available.

If this sounds like the type of workplace you’d like to clock in to, now’s your chance.

There is currently a range of vacant position that could be what you’re looking for. Click here or phone 4153 4233 to find out which roles are hiring.